Advertisement
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for dense fog in Odisha and Bihar on February 17, anticipating challenging weather conditions. Furthermore, from February 18 to 20, heavy rainfall accompanied by snowfall is likely in the western Himalayan regions, affecting states such as Himachal Pradesh, Haryana-Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Residents in these areas should brace themselves for strong winds and potential lightning strikes.
The IMD alert comes amidst concerns over air quality, particularly in major cities like Delhi. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi remains stagnant at 378, indicating 'very poor' conditions. The presence of moderate fog during the morning hours aggravates the situation, posing difficulties for commuters.
Across Tier 1 cities in India, varying AQI levels are recorded. Mumbai stands at 372, Pune at 292, Kolkata at 320, and Ahmedabad at 139. However, cities like Chennai and Bengaluru exhibit significantly better air quality, with AQI levels at 62 and 51 respectively. Hyderabad fares even better with an AQI of 50.
The situation is more severe in certain cities, with Amritsar topping the chart with an AQI of 436, followed by Agartala at 350, Noida at 346, and Ghaziabad at 344. Other cities grappling with high pollution levels include Gurugram at 328, Faridabad at 343, Bhiwandi at 339, Muzaffarpur at 233, and Patna at 224.