Delhi woke up to dense fog on Sunday morning, severely impacting visibility, accompanied by cold winds. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the capital recorded a minimum temperature of 10°C.
The IMD has forecasted that dense fog will persist in isolated areas across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, the department has predicted rainfall for Delhi on February 3.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality remained in the “very poor” category, with the Central Pollution Control Board reporting an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 340 at 8 a.m. AQI ratings are categorized as follows: 0-50 (good), 51-100 (satisfactory), 101-200 (moderate), 201-300 (poor), 301-400 (very poor), and 401-500 (severe).
Cold conditions continue to affect the city, with many residents seeking refuge in night shelters to escape the harsh temperatures. On Saturday night, several people were spotted huddled together in shelters in areas like Nizamuddin and Lodhi Road, looking for warmth.
The night shelters, typically simple structures like community centers or tents, offer basic amenities such as heaters and blowers to provide relief. In collaboration with various NGOs, the Delhi government has made provisions for warm clothing, blankets, and heated spaces to accommodate the growing number of people using these shelters.
Tinku Kumar, a caretaker at one of the shelters, shared, “We have 20 beds for the people. All of them have been provided with food, blankets, and medicines.”
The cold weather is being attributed to northwesterly winds coming from the Himalayas. The IMD reported that Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a temperature of 3.4°C at 5:30 a.m.
In Jammu and Kashmir’s Sonamarg area, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has started snow clearance operations to ensure safe passage amid heavy snowfall. The Kashmir valley has been blanketed with snow for several days, which, although picturesque, has disrupted daily life for residents.