Cold wave grips Delhi: Temperatures dip to 2.9°C, AQI stays in poor zone; fog blankets parts of city

NEW DELHI: New Delhi reeled under an intense cold spell as temperatures dipped sharply across the capital, with Ayanagar recording the lowest minimum temperature at 2.9°C, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).Several parts of the city witnessed cold wave conditions on Sunday night, with minimum temperatures dropping close to the three-degree mark. Palam recorded a low of 3°C, its lowest in several years. IMD said similar cold conditions are likely to persist through the day.At Safdarjung, the minimum temperature was recorded at 4.8°C on Sunday night and is expected to dip further to around 3°C on Monday night. The Ridge station recorded a minimum temperature of 3.7°C, while the maximum there touched 18.8°C. Air quality remained a concern, with Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 293 in the poor category as of 7am on Monday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This was marginally higher than Saturday’s AQI reading of 291.A thin layer of fog was reported in areas such as Dhaula Kuan and Sarai Kale Khan during the early morning hours, affecting visibility in pockets.Cold conditions have prevailed over the past few days. The capital woke up to a windy and chilly Sunday morning, with temperatures hovering around 6.6°C in the early hours. Hazy conditions reduced visibility across several areas, adding to residents’ discomfort.On Saturday, the minimum temperature had dipped to 5.4°C, with light rain reported in parts of the city. On Friday, minimum temperatures hovered around 5°C as the cold spell continued.Meanwhile, rehearsals for the 77th Republic Day parade continued on Kartavya Path amid harsh winter conditions.