Air Force personnel preparing for the Republic Day Parade amid light fog on the duty path and vehicles moving with lights on on the roads. (Photo Courtesy – ANI)
Digital Desk, New Delhi. Improvement in the air quality of Delhi-NCR has been recorded. On Tuesday, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped from 380 to 236, which indicates a decline in pollution levels.
Even on Saturday morning, the situation of fog and pollution was better than before but it still remains in serious condition in many areas of NCR including Delhi.
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In view of this improvement in air quality, the GRAP sub-committee of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has taken a major decision. The CAQM sub-committee has lifted all restrictions imposed under Stage-3 of GRAP in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect.
However, all restrictions imposed under Stage-1 and Stage-2 of GRAP to keep a check on pollution will continue in NCR.
Due to increase in the speed of winds, less fog was seen on Friday, but in the afternoon the feeling of cold suddenly increased in the cities of NCR including Delhi. Throughout the day people felt like melting. The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for Saturday.
#WATCH | Delhi: Visuals around the Akshardham area as a layer of smog engulfs the national capital. AQI (Air Quality Index) around the area is 282, categorised as 'Poor', as claimed by CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board). pic.twitter.com/t1H0B7oHEs
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Earlier, the weather department had predicted that the sky would remain clear throughout the day on Saturday. The minimum temperature is likely to be seven degrees while the maximum is expected to be 18 degrees Celsius. There is also a possibility of dense fog in the morning. The weather has also predicted cold wave in some areas of Delhi and Haryana between Saturday and Tuesday. It is known that cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature falls by 4.5 degrees Celsius to 6.5 degrees Celsius below the average temperature.
Situation of some major stations of Delhi-NCR on Saturday morning
The air quality situation in Delhi-NCR remained worrying on Saturday morning too, with AQI levels recorded in the 'very poor' category at several major monitoring stations. Air pollution was the most severe in Mundka with an AQI of 369, while the levels were 326 in Rohini, 279 in DTU, 273 in Wazirpur and 253 in Loni (Ghaziabad). Other areas like Pusa-2 (252), Ashok Vihar (251), Vasundhara (242), Sirifort (240) and Noida Sector-116 (201) also had AQI above 200, which is harmful for health.
This pollution can lead to shortness of breath, eye irritation and other health problems, especially for children, elderly and respiratory patients, it is advisable to go out less and use masks.