Delhi woke up to a double whammy on Monday as the capital recorded both its coldest morning of the season and continued to grapple with dangerously poor air quality. The city experienced its lowest minimum temperature so far this season at 8.7 degrees Celsius while simultaneously battling 'very poor' air quality with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 356.
Frigid Temperatures and Dense Smog Envelop Capital
According to joint reports from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi's temperature dropped to 8.7 degrees Celsius, marking the season's lowest minimum temperature. Early morning visuals from across the city showed Delhi shrouded in a thick blanket of smog, significantly reducing visibility on roads and in residential areas.
The CPCB's Sameer app revealed alarming pollution data, indicating that five monitoring stations reported air quality in the 'severe' category, while 29 stations recorded 'very poor' levels with readings between 300 and 400. Only four stations fell in the 'poor' category, highlighting the widespread nature of the air quality crisis.
Bawana Emerges as Pollution Hotspot
Among the 38 AQI monitoring stations across the capital, Bawana reported the highest pollution level with an AQI of 419, pushing it into the 'severe' category. This development has raised concerns among environmental experts and residents alike, particularly as winter sets in and atmospheric conditions become more favorable for pollutant accumulation.
Political and Civic Developments Amid Environmental Challenges
Despite the challenging environmental conditions, political activities continued unabated. The BJP and AAP have intensified their campaign for the November 30 bypolls in 12 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva chaired a meeting to review the party's poll preparedness with election coordinators, ministers, district unit presidents, parliamentarians, and legislators.
In a separate development, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Sunday that three metro stations in Pitampura will be renamed for the sake of local identity. The announcement came during her attendance at the Shresth Bharat Sampark Yatra in Haiderpur village, which was organized to honor the martyrs of the Rezang La battle.
The Rezang La battle, fought by the Indian Army against invading Chinese forces in the winter of 1962 at over 16,000 feet above mean sea level, saw 114 army men of the 13 Kumaon Regiment make the ultimate sacrifice. The decision to rename the metro stations comes as part of efforts to strengthen local identity while remembering historical sacrifices.
