Delhi sees coldest January morning since 2024; AQI worsens
New Delhi (PTI): Since 2024, Delhi recorded its coldest January morning on Friday, with a biting chill gripping the city as temperatures dropped to their lowest levels so far this winter, according to the India Meteorological Department.
The maximum temperature in the national capital settled at 19.7 degrees Celsius, which was 0.7 degrees above normal, indicating near-normal daytime conditions despite the sharp overnight cooling and parts of Delhi witnessing light rainfall.
The minimum temperature plunged to 4.6 degrees Celsius, 2.3 degrees below the seasonal normal, marking the coldest morning of the ongoing winter season.
The last comparable lows were recorded on December 4 and 5 last year, when the mercury dipped to 5.6 degrees Celsius, followed by December 1, when it stood at 5.7 degrees.
According to the weather observations recorded, maximum temperatures across Delhi varied across stations, with Safdarjung recording a high of 19.7 degrees, which was 0.7 degrees above normal.
Ayanagar followed closely with a maximum of 19.0 degrees Celsius, 2.1 degrees above normal, while Lodhi Road recorded 18.8 degrees Celsius.
The Ridge station logged a maximum temperature of 17.9 degrees Celsius, whereas Palam recorded the lowest daytime maximum among the listed stations at 17.2 degrees.
Station-wise data showed Safdarjung recording a minimum temperature of 4.6 degrees Celsius, while Palam logged 5 degrees, Lodhi Road 5.2 degrees, and the Ridge 5.4 degrees.
On the rainfall front, Safdarjung and Lodhi Road recorded trace rainfall during the past 24 hours till 8.30 am, while Ayanagar received 0.8 mm of rainfall. Palam and the Ridge station recorded no rain during the same period.
The IMD said dense fog was observed at several places, and a yellow alert for dense fog has been issued. Relative humidity stood at 100 per cent at 8.30 am, dropping to 73 per cent by 5.30 pm, leading to reduced visibility during the morning hours.
Cold wave conditions are likely to persist over parts of north and northwest India, including Delhi-NCR, in the coming days, though no severe cold wave conditions are threatening yet, the weather office said.
Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality remained in the 'very poor' category, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 345. Up to 26 monitoring stations reported very poor air quality, deteriorating from poor levels recorded a day earlier.
As per the Central Pollution Control Board classification, an AQI between 0–50 is considered 'good', 51–100 'satisfactory', 101–200 'moderate', 201–300 'poor', 301–400 'very poor', and 401–500 'severe'.
According to the Decision Support System (DSS), vehicular emissions remained the biggest contributor to Delhi's pollution load at 16.9 per cent, followed by Delhi and peripheral industries at 13.1 per cent. Other local sources included waste burning (1.6 per cent), construction activities (2.1 per cent) and residential emissions (4.3 per cent).
Among neighbouring NCR districts, pollution contribution was led by Sonipat (13 per cent), followed by Baghpat (8.9 per cent), Jhajjar (5.5 per cent), Ghaziabad (5.4 per cent), Panipat (4.8 per cent) and Gautam Buddh Nagar (1.7 per cent).
According to the Air Quality Early Warning System, the air quality is likely to remain in the 'very poor' category on January 10, while it is expected to improve slightly to the 'poor' category from January 11 to January 12, provided meteorological conditions remain favourable.
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Withdraw 'disrespectful' remark against Rahul Gandhi and apologise: Pilot asks Rijiju
Mumbai (PTI): Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Thursday hit out at Union minister Kiren Rijiju for passing a "disrespectful and inappropriate" remark against Rahul Gandhi, and asked him to apologise for it.
He was answering a query regarding Rijiju's reported statement in which he described Gandhi as the "most dangerous person" for India's security, and a purported video of a man claiming to be from Karni Sena issuing death threats to the Congress leader.
Addressing a press conference here, Pilot said, "When ordinary journalists criticise the government, they face FIRs and jail. But when threats are issued against the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (Rahul Gandhi), there is silence. This shows the government's intention. LoP is a constitutional position. To describe him as a security threat is inappropriate and disrespectful. Even as such open threats are being made, the government is not taking any action."
"The statement 9against Gandhi) should be withdrawn and an apology should be issued," the Congress general secretary said, adding that it is the job of the LoP to seek accountability from the government and ask questions.
To a query on the plane crash in which Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed on January 28, Pilot said, "I do not want to speculate. There should be a transparent, time-bound inquiry. If there are doubts, a high-level investigation should clarify facts."
When asked about the demand for leadership change in the opposition INDIA bloc, he said, "Leadership decisions are internal matters. The alliance worked remarkably well in the last Lok Sabha election. The gap in numbers between the INDIA bloc and the NDA was not very wide. We are working together strongly and will continue to do so."
The Congress has been helming the INDIA bloc, a coalition of Opposition parties formed before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to counter the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, voices from disgruntled Congress members and those associated with the UPA dispensation suggested that the leadership of the opposition alliance should be given to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin.
On Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Indian economy, Pilot said, "India is a major IT power. We have talent and capability. Many countries see India as a natural partner. But we must use our strengths wisely and not compromise our sovereignty under pressure."
"India should have the freedom to decide where to buy oil from. That is a sovereign decision," Pilot said.
On the issue of illegal migration, he said anybody staying illegally in India should be removed regardless of religion or caste.
"But this issue should not be politicised. If the border has been under control for 11 years, how did illegal immigrants enter? The government should provide data on how many people have been deported," he said.
"This government's intent and policies are anti-farmer and there is no accountability. The opposition will continue to demand answers from the government and stand with farmers and the people of India," he said.
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