Dense fog grips national capital, air quality 'severe'

The national capital witnessed dense fog on Sunday morning as the minimum temperature was recorded at 5.3 5.3 degrees Celsius, 2.3 notches below the season's average.

At 8:30 am the humidity was recorded at 100 per cent.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) placed the city under yellow alert. IMD has given warning of dense fog till forenoon at many places.

Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 5.3 degrees Celsius; Palam 8 degrees Celsius; Lodhi Road 6.8 degrees Celsius; the Ridge 7.2 degrees Celsius and Ayanagar 7 degrees Celsius, the IMD data showed.

Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 444, in the 'severe' category, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'.

The Centre's pollution watchdog on Saturday invoked curbs under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR as the capital's air quality deteriorated to enter the 'severe' category, according to officials.

(With PTI inputs)