The national capital continued to grapple with a thick layer of toxic smog on Wednesday morning, with air quality levels firmly lodged in the 'very poor' category. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 349 at 7 am, indicating significant health risks for residents.
Pollution Control Measures Scaled Back
In a significant development, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced the immediate removal of all Stage III restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). This decision, made on Wednesday, comes after the city witnessed three consecutive days of improved air quality. However, the commission emphasized that actions under Stage-I and II of the GRAP will remain in force.
As per the official statement, all concerned agencies across the entire National Capital Region (NCR) must monitor and implement these measures to prevent air quality from deteriorating into the 'Severe' or 'Severe+' category. The directive calls for strict vigil and intensified efforts under the initial stages of the pollution control plan.
Nationwide Weather Patterns and Forecast
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a series of weather warnings for various parts of the country. Cold wave conditions are forecast for Punjab, while heavy rainfall is expected at isolated places over Maharashtra, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Telangana throughout the day.
Furthermore, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely at isolated locations in several states, including:
- Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal
- Sikkim, Odisha, Assam, and Meghalaya
- Madhya Maharashtra and Marathawada
For Delhi and its neighboring areas—Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad—the weather is predicted to remain cloudy. The minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to hover around 20 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius, respectively. Isolated pockets of fog are also anticipated in Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh.
Cyclonic Systems Influence Regional Climate
The IMD has provided insights into the temperature fluctuations expected in Jharkhand. Abhishek Anand, Director of IMD Ranchi, stated that temperatures may fall by another 1.5 degrees but are expected to rise by 2-4 degrees in the subsequent 2-3 days.
He attributed these variations to two significant weather systems developing in the southern Bay of Bengal. One system near Northeast Indonesia has intensified into the Senyar cyclonic storm. Simultaneously, a low-pressure area has formed in the Southwest Bay of Bengal, which is likely to intensify within the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are bracing for heavy to very heavy rainfall, accompanied by thundersqualls and strong winds.
