Residents of the national capital region faced a grim start to the new year as toxic smog and severe cold conditions continued unabated. On January 1, the region battled a double whammy of plunging temperatures and hazardous air quality, with no immediate prospect of relief in sight.

Pollution Levels Remain Critical

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) on the first day of the year was recorded at 380, placing it firmly in the ‘very poor’ category. Across the city, 26 monitoring stations reported ‘very poor’ air quality, while 11 stations plunged into the ‘severe’ category. Anand Vihar emerged as the most polluted hotspot, recording a staggering AQI of 423.

Authorities have deployed mitigation measures, including the use of anti-smog guns near India Gate, yet the air quality is expected to remain in the ‘very poor’ range until January 4. Data from the Decision Support System highlights that local transport contributed 11 per cent to the pollution load, followed by residential sources (2.9 per cent), industry and construction (1.3 per cent), and road dust (0.7 per cent). Significant pollution also drifted in from neighboring areas, with Bulandshahr contributing 9.8 per cent, Gautam Buddh Nagar 6.6 per cent, and Faridabad 4.1 per cent.

Cold Wave And Fog Alert

Compounding the pollution crisis, the weather remained harsh. On Thursday, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 17.3 degrees Celsius—two degrees below normal—while the minimum temperature stood at 10.6 degrees Celsius, 3.7 degrees above normal. The day was marked by cloudy skies, morning fog, and sporadic drizzle in some areas.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Friday, forecasting moderate to very dense fog. Visibility has already been significantly reduced, forcing vehicles to move at a crawl. The IMD predicts cold wave conditions will persist across various locations between January 2 and January 5, with temperatures expected to drop further.

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Friday Morning Updates

On the morning of January 2, Delhi-NCR remained enveloped in a thick blanket of pollution with no significant improvement in air quality. According to aqicn.org, major areas continued to report concerning AQI levels, posing serious health risks and breathing difficulties for citizens.

Dwarka reported the worst conditions on Friday morning with an AQI of 307. This was followed by Vasundhara at 275 and Mundka at 222. Other key readings included Sriniwaspuri at 180, Siri Fort at 171, and both Chandni Chowk and Jahangirpuri at 170. Anand Vihar recorded a morning reading of 168, while Noida Sector-116 and Teri Gram in Gurugram recorded 160 and 156, respectively.

Also Read: Delhi Weather Update: Dense Fog, Cold Wave To Intensify In Capital, IMD Issues Orange Alert; Check Forecast