New Delhi:
Delhi witnessed a significant drop in temperatures on Thursday as cold wave conditions and bad weather enveloped the city.
According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi recorded 6.4 degrees Celsius at 5.30 am on Thursday.
The MeT department has predicted that the minimum temperature for the day will be 5 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 21 degrees Celsius.
Compared to recent days, the temperature dropped between 8 and 11 degrees Celsius around 5:30 am.
The IMD has predicted a “dense fog” for the city on Thursday, but conflicting images have emerged from different parts of the city.
As the cold snap continued, many homeless people took refuge in night shelters. A night shelter on Lodhi Road was seen with all beds occupied.
The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has set up 235 pagoda tents to provide shelter to the homeless. Night shelters have also been set up at various locations in the national capital, including AIIMS, Lodhi Road and Nizamuddin flyover.
Meanwhile, air quality in the national capital declined to poor, albeit by a minimal margin. The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 299 at 7 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board data.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor' and 401 and 500 'severe'.
On Sunday, the Air Quality Management Commission (CAQM) withdrew the Phase III actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR after significant improvement in the Air Quality Index (AQI).
However, the Phase I and Phase II measures remain in place, officials said on Sunday.
The decision comes after the sub-committee on GRAP reviewed air quality data and IMD/IITM forecasts and noticed a downward trend in AQI levels.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)