Delhi Shivers Under Dense Fog and Cold Wave, Temperatures Drop Sharply

Delhi woke up to a thick blanket of fog on Wednesday as a cold wave swept through the city, causing temperatures to plummet and visibility to drop significantly. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted a minimum temperature of 8 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 16 degrees Celsius for the day, accompanied by "very dense fog."

Severe cold weather conditions have pushed several homeless people into night shelters spread across the city. The scene in areas like Sarai Kale Khan, Ram Leela Maidan, and Nigam Bodh Ghat showed shelters totally packed. According to sources, DUSIB has installed 235 pagoda tents to help those who were left stranded on the roads. Night shelters were also erected at AIIMS, Lodhi Road, and Nizamuddin flyover.

Residents shivering in the cold were seen huddled around bonfires as the mercury continued to plummet. On Tuesday, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 10.5 degrees Celsius, according to the Met Department.

In Uttar Pradesh, similar conditions prevailed, with people in Ayodhya taking shelter in night homes due to the cold.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality remained in the 'very poor' category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 326 at 6 am on Wednesday, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board. The AQI scale categorizes readings between 301 and 400 as 'very poor,' with higher levels posing severe health risks.

Though the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revoked Stage-III measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR on Sunday after an improvement in air quality, Stage-I and Stage-II restrictions remain in place.

Cold wave, thick fog, and below normal temperature will continue in the next two or three days. People are asked to wear warm clothes, keep indoor most of the times and avoid stepping out during the morning and night time.