As the new year approaches, several regions in India are grappling with severe air quality and cold weather conditions. Mumbai's landmarks and buildings are enveloped in toxic smog, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) surpassing the 200-mark in parts of the city. Delhi is experiencing even harsher conditions, with the AQI plunging into the 'Severe' category across multiple areas, as reported by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Specific locations such as Anand Vihar, Dwarka-Sector 8, RK Puram, and Mundka have recorded AQI levels of 425, 426, and 431 respectively. Cold weather is prevailing in Delhi-NCR, with the mercury expected to drop further in the first week of 2024. Dense fog has also engulfed regions like Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir, where the temperature has dipped to minus 5 degrees Celsius, and a thin sheet of ice has formed on Dal Lake. Similarly, West Bengal's Siliguri is covered in a blanket of thick fog, with visuals captured at 6.5 am and 6.05 am. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has provided satellite images showing a layer of fog over Punjab, North Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, northwest Madhya Pradesh, south Uttarakhand, and Sub Himalayan West Bengal, taken at 06:15 IST. In Delhi, the mercury has been recorded at 9°C on a chilly New Year's morning, with several trains delayed and the IMD issuing a fog alert for the capital.
D.C.-area forecast: A chilly week to ring in 2024 could end with winter storm https://t.co/wkDmajeIxf
Delhi: Mercury at 9°C as city wakes up to chilly New Year's morning; several trains delayed, IMD issues fog alert Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/XSRkGx0IIp #Delhi #Winters #IMD #WeatherUpdate https://t.co/6xtFo63eiX
#WATCH | A thin sheet of ice forms in Jammu & Kashmir's Srinagar as it recorded minus 5 degrees Celsius last night. https://t.co/TUph8YzFw2
#WATCH | A thin sheet of ice forms on the upper layer of Dal Lake as J&K's Srinagar recorded minus 5 degrees Celsius last night https://t.co/uB4e4KL1gZ
#WATCH | Light haze, cloudy skies over Delhi today; Minimum temperature expected to remain below 10 degrees Celsius. Air quality in the 'very poor' category today, as per the Central Pollution Control Board. https://t.co/mKUQDYzakK
A layer of fog (encircled patch) over Punjab, North Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, northwest Madhya Pradesh, south Uttarkhand, Sub Himalayan West Bengal is visible in the satellite picture taken at 06:15 IST on January 1, 2024: IMD https://t.co/C41iZiN4CF
#WATCH | A blanket of thick fog covers West Bengal's Siliguri. (Visuals shot at 6.05 am) https://t.co/l9Y0tRcU7I
#WATCH | A blanket of thick fog covers West Bengal's Siliguri. (Visuals shot at 6.5 am) https://t.co/fAdKpz5gMz
Delhi air quality dips to 'severe' as cold wave grips city Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/MwPqertYx0 #Delhi #AQI #AirQuality #DelhiNCR https://t.co/Z7C0Gudwuh
#WATCH | Jammu & Kashmir: A dense layer of fog engulfs Srinagar as temperature dips further; visuals from Dal Lake shot at 09:00 AM https://t.co/CDpjAvpEx6
Cold weather conditions prevail in Delhi-NCR; mercury to plunge further in first week of 2024 Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/ZmTmEBb2J9 #IMD #Weather #Fog #Smog #Winter #India https://t.co/gEVMiMv2Hx
#WATCH | The Air Quality Index (AQI) reaches the 'severe' category in the National Capital as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). (Drone visuals from ITO, shot at 8:00 am) https://t.co/dDde95Hwi8
#WATCH | The Air Quality Index (AQI) reaches the 'severe' category in the National Capital as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). (Drone visuals from Sarai Kale Khan and Barapullah, shot at 7:50 am) https://t.co/wWUX0w1Zq1
#WATCH | Delhi: The Air Quality Index (AQI) is in the 'Severe' category in the National Capital as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) (Drone visuals from AIIMS, shot at 7:15 am) https://t.co/Ht5vazqG7l
The Air Quality Index (AQI) across Delhi dips into 'Severe' category in several areas as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). AQI in Anand Vihar at 425, in Dwarka-Sector 8 at 425, in RK Puram at 426, in Mundka at 431 https://t.co/xr4mJWy6dT
VIDEO: Mumbai's iconic landmarks and buildings lie covered in toxic smog, as the air quality index (AQI) in several places of the city breaches the 200-mark. https://t.co/E1JXp7Haua