Thu Jan 16 11:55:05 UTC 2025: ## Delhi Bathed in Rain, Grapples with Severe Air Quality and Fog

**NEW DELHI –** A spell of overnight rain swept across Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and other parts of the National Capital Region (NCR), offering temporary relief from the severe air quality plaguing the region. However, the respite is expected to be short-lived. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Delhi, forecasting light rain and thunderstorms until Sunday, accompanied by morning smog and shallow fog. Overcast conditions are also anticipated throughout the day.

The rain comes amidst several days of dense fog, which has caused significant delays to the railway network. Indian Railways reported that 29 trains arriving in Delhi were running late on Thursday due to reduced visibility.

Despite the rain, Delhi continues to grapple with extremely poor air quality. As of Thursday morning, the Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the “severe” category, exceeding 400 in several areas. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 404, while Wazirpur registered the highest at 434. The lowest AQI, 236, was recorded in Dilshad Garden. These readings prompted the central government to re-impose Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) IV restrictions on Wednesday in an effort to mitigate the worsening air quality.

The city’s temperature currently fluctuates between a minimum of 12.05 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 21.41 degrees Celsius, with a relative humidity of 44 percent and wind speeds reaching 44 km/hour. The IMD advises residents to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions against the poor air quality and changing weather conditions.

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