Severe cold wave grips Delhi, disrupting rail services and filling night shelters, while air quality improves slightly but stays critical…reports Asian Lite News
The national capital experienced severe weather early Monday, with plummeting temperatures and biting winds. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi recorded a temperature of 11.4 degrees Celsius at 5:30 am. The IMD forecasted a minimum temperature of 11 degrees Celsius and a maximum of around 18 degrees Celsius for the day.
Rain lashed parts of Delhi and Gurgaon, intensifying the chill as a cold wave gripped the region. The dense fog disrupted railway operations, causing several trains to run late at New Delhi railway station.
Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category, with an AQI of 316 at 6 am, as reported by the Central Pollution Control Board. An AQI between 301 and 400 is considered ‘very poor,’ while 401-500 is ‘severe.’
On Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) withdrew Stage-III GRAP measures in Delhi-NCR following notable air quality improvements. However, Stage-I and Stage-II measures remained active. Improved weather conditions and increased wind speeds helped reduce the AQI to 339 at 4:00 pm and 335 at 5:00 pm, with forecasts suggesting further improvements.
Stage-III GRAP measures, which include restrictions on non-essential construction and hybrid learning for students up to grade V, were previously enforced due to rising pollution levels but were lifted on December 27.
The cold wave has driven many homeless individuals to seek refuge in night shelters, with full occupancy reported at shelters near Yamuna Bazar, Kashmere Gate, and AIIMS. The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has set up 235 pagoda tents for the homeless. Residents huddled around bonfires or sought shelter as temperatures continued to dip.
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