AQI returns to 'poor', Grap 3 lifted in NCR

Delhi's air quality returned to the "poor" category on Friday after two days of pollution levels being in the "very poor" zone, resulting in the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region (NCR) lifting Stage 3 measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap).

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The 23-hour average air quality index (AQI) dropped to 289 at 4 pm on Friday, an improvement from 302 (very poor) at 4 pm on Thursday and 400 at 8 pm on Wednesday. By 11 pm, Friday's AQI had dropped to 266. Stage 4 Grap measures, which were imposed on Wednesday, were lifted the next day.

Friday was also colder than Thursday. The minimum temperature was 8.8°C, a drop from 10.3°C the day before and 1.2°C above the normal. The maximum temperature was 18 degrees Celsius (°C), down from 19.6°C on Thursday and 1.6°C below the normal.

The India Meteorological department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for the weekend, warning people of a moderate to dense fog.

IMD has forecast another western disturbance to start impacting northwest India from January 18 onwards, with chances of another spell of light rain in Delhi on January 22 or 23. The maximum and minimum temperature are forecast to be around 19°C and 7°C.

"The minimum will drop till the western disturbance impacts the region. After that, we will likely see a rise in the minimum temperature again," added the Met official.

Grap seesaw