New Delhi witnessed a welcome change in its air quality on Wednesday morning as gusty winds blowing at 5 to 7 kmph combined with light drizzle to push down pollution levels across the National Capital Region (NCR). Several areas shifted from the orange zone, indicating moderate to poor air, into the safer yellow zone, which signifies moderate pollution.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports that morning fog or mist may persist over the next few days, but no alerts have been issued yet. This natural cleansing has brought relief to residents tired of the persistent smog that blankets the region during winter.
In Delhi, key monitoring stations recorded varied AQI levels. Alipur clocked in at 146, Anand Vihar at 249, Ashok Vihar at 181, Aya Nagar at 119, Bawana at 193, Burari Crossing at 144, Chandni Chowk at 227, CRRI Mathura Road at 150, Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range at 177, and DTU at 130. Notably, multiple spots like Aya Nagar, Burari Crossing, CRRI, and DTU fell into the 100-150 range, firmly in the yellow zone.
However, hotspots such as Anand Vihar and Chandni Chowk remain in the orange category, underscoring uneven recovery. Across the border in Noida, Sector-125 reported 197, Sector-62 at 146, Sector-1 at 207, and Sector-116 at 158. Ghaziabad’s stations showed Indirapuram at 209, Loni at 241, Sanjay Nagar at 148, and Vasundhara at 210.
Weather data for February 19 indicated a maximum temperature of 27°C and minimum of 13°C, with humidity ranging from 90% to 50%. Forecasts for February 20 and 21 predict similar highs of 28°C and lows of 13°C, with mist likely but no warnings in place.
Experts attribute the improvement to the dispersion of pollutants thanks to increased wind speeds and light precipitation. If these conditions hold, further enhancements in air quality could be on the horizon, offering hope for clearer skies ahead.