Delhi experienced a sudden change in weather as light rain lashed parts of the national capital on Monday. The air quality in the city remained 'severe' with an Air Quality Index of 410, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for fog in the national capital for Monday and subsequent two days. A similar warning has been put in place for Haryana and Chandigarh also.
The AQI in the city continued to remain in the 'severe' category despite curbs enforced under stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan.
Majority of the stations in the city recorded AQI in the severe levels including Alipur (437), Anand Vihar (443), Ashok Vihar (460), Bawana (475), Burari Crossing (445), CRRI Mathura Raod (410), DTU (429), ITO (414), Jahangirpuri (453), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (405), Major Dhyan Chand Stadium (411), Mandir Marg (403), Mundka (446), Narela (428), Nehru Nagar (446), North Campus (416), Okhla Phase-2 (428), Patparganj (428), Punjabi Bagh (424), RK Puram (429), Rohini (468), Sirifort (422), Sonia Vihar (456), Vivek Vihar (438), and Wazirpur (464).
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
Under the GRAP-IV curbs construction activities are completely banned with restrictions on the entry of non-essential polluting trucks into the city. School classes, except those for X and XII, is shifted to hybrid mode while many offices also allow their employees the option to work from home.
On Sunday, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 24.1 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal. The minimum temperature settled a notch below normal at 7.3 degrees Celsius, as per the India Meteorological Department.
The city has been experiencing 'severe' air quality after there was a temporary relief in the first half of December. Following an exceptionally polluted November, the air quality was 'moderate' for six days this month.
However, since December 16, the city's air quality plunged to a 'severe' level.