Delhi colder than Shimla but air quality 'very poor'

NEW DELHI: It's so cold it almost feels like Delhi," isn't probably something you can expect to hear in Shimla. Maybe it's time to rethink that. For the past two days, the national Capital has witnessed mornings colder than Shimla.

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 5.2 degree Celsius, whereas the famous hill station had a minimum temperature of 9.4 degree Celsius.

The situation will continue to be the same for the rest of the week as the cold wave conditions will continue till December 22, said the Met department. Himachal's capital Shimla received snowfall last week, but its temperature remained 4 degrees above normal. Meanwhile, the overall air quality index (AQI) of the national Capital stood at 349, which falls in the 'very poor' category, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed. An AQI between 100 to 200 comes under the 'moderate' category, 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', while that between 401 and 500 is 'severe'. The Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) said the air quality is likely to deteriorate further by Friday.

"Some areas of Delhi, particularly the south-east and the north-west part of Delhi, are likely to slip into the 'severe' category, but the overall AQI for Delhi city will remain in the upper side of 'very poor'," the SAFAR said.

"The AQI is expected to recover by the weekend but will continue to remain in the 'very poor' range with a decline in magnitude. A moderate fog will prevail and help both gaseous and particulate pollutants to become stagnant near the surface," it said. The overall PM2.5 level (fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometre) was recorded at 240 and the PM10 level at 413, the SAFAR said.