Delhi records minimum temperature of 24.8 degrees Celsius; 166 AQI recorded in 24 hours

Delhi Weather Update: The national capital on Friday recorded a minimum temperature of 24.8 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal, with the department forecasting a clear sky for the day. The humidity was 64 per cent at 8.30 am, according to the India Meteorological Department. The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 36 degrees Celsius, it said.

With monsoon season retreating here, the pollution levels in the city started rising again.
The city recorded an average Air Quality Index (AQI) here was recorded as 166 over the last 24 hours, indicating challenging air quality for the national capital.

Some of the most polluted areas in Delhi include Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 231, Mundka with an AQI of 273, AQI of 201 in Loni and the Delhi Institute of Tool Engineering recorded an AQI of 243 which is considered unhealthy and hazardous.

Additionally, the current PM2.5 concentration in the city is 5.5 times above the recommended limit given by the World Health Organization's 24-hour air quality guidelines value.

Meanwhile, pollution has also increased in nearby areas. Ghaziabad recorded an AQI of 171, 184 AQI in Meerut and Noida recorded an AQI of 184.

Earlier on October 3, Shiromani Akali Dal leader, Daljit Singh Cheema appealed to the Supreme Court to take action against the states of Punjab and Haryana hours after the top court pulled both states over the air pollution.

"Supreme Court has always put in much effort every time so that the pollution issue that happens in Delhi and nearby areas can be resolved, but the problem is increasing every year. Now, the Supreme Court has again spoken to the Punjab and Haryana governments," Cheema told ANI.

The SAD leader added, "I appeal to the Supreme Court to take action against them...then they will start acting on it... every time they can't blame farmers, they have to provide farmers with adequate facilities..."

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court expressed disappointment over the Commission for Air Quality Management's (CAQM) effort to implement its directions concerning air pollution.

"From the affidavit of compliance we find that no effort is being made by CAQM for implementation of its directions, not a single prosecution has been initiated and the last meeting was only held on August 29," said the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court directed the States of Punjab and Haryana to comply with CAQM directions and to file an affidavit within a week. Supreme Court posted the case for hearing on October 16.