The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted light rainfall in Delhi today, expected to decrease the minimum temperature in the national capital to around 5 degrees Celsius. Thursday saw Delhi’s minimum temperature at 6.4 degrees Celsius, marking a two-notch drop below the season’s average.
According to the IMD’s weather bulletin, the city experienced a daytime high of 23 degrees Celsius, slightly above the normal range. The relative humidity at 5:30 pm stood at 64 percent, as per the bulletin. However, Delhi’s air quality remained concerning, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) residing in the ‘very poor’ category at 361, based on data from the Central Pollution Control Board.
Data analysis indicated that vehicles contributed 35% to the PM2.5 concentration on Thursday, with biomass burning contributing 34% and burning of plastic and waste contributing 6%. Instances of biomass burning, including the burning of firewood, dung, and leaves, have been notably high, adding to pollution levels during the winter nights.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee raised concerns about rampant biomass burning, highlighting 43 identified hot spots across the city in a letter addressed to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi earlier this week. The identified spots have shown consistent occurrences of biomass burning over the past year.
Forecasts from the Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi, an earth sciences ministry forecasting model, suggest that the city’s air quality is likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ category from December 22 to December 24. Subsequently, the air quality might fluctuate between ‘very poor’ and ‘poor’ for the following six days.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) scale categorizes air quality levels, with the current reading in Delhi falling within the ‘very poor’ range, emphasizing the need for measures to curb pollution and enhance air quality for the well-being of residents.
Sources By Agencies
