A thick blanket of smog has spread over the national capital Delhi and Mumbai. Delhi is facing such a situation due to cold wave conditions and poor air quality. Mumbai is also covered in smog due to poor air quality. 

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the capital Delhi fell to 393 i.e. 'very poor' category, which was 370 on Saturday. AQI between zero to 50 is considered 'good', between 51 to 100 'satisfactory', between 101 to 200 'moderate', between 201 to 300 'poor', between 301 to 400 'very poor' and between 401 to 500 'severe'. The IMD said that the humidity level was recorded at 97 percent at 8:30 am. The maximum temperature is expected to reach 24 degrees Celsius. 

Delhi's air quality

Delhi has been witnessing a drop in air quality again this week, forcing authorities to re-implement the fourth and final phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Under this, all schools have been made online and diesel medium and heavy goods vehicles registered with BS-IV or older have been banned in Delhi. All construction activities have also been stopped in the national capital. According to the Meteorological Department (IMD), smog conditions may persist for a few more days as the cold increases in the national capital.

At the same time, the cold wave has intensified in the capital Delhi, the minimum temperature in many areas has been recorded around 7 degrees Celsius. According to the Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature in Delhi's Safdarjung and Palam was recorded at 7.3 and 8.8 degrees Celsius respectively.

Smog spread in Mumbai too

Mumbai is experiencing the coldest winter this time. The city is experiencing such cold after decades. The air quality of the city has deteriorated. For the fourth consecutive day, the city was covered in a blanket of smog and the total AQI reached 176. Earlier this week, the AQI had reached 199, which was in the 'poor' category.