Dense fog coupled with ‘severe’ pollution levels sent alarm bells ringing in the Capital on Tuesday as visibility plummeted to 200 meters in several areas of the Capital and below 25 metres in parts of Punjab, Haryana, northern Rajasthan and Western Uttar Pradesh.
Fog coupled with air pollutants led to smog that created a “visually disturbing” scenario in the city forcing Delhiites to stay indoors.
K. Sathi Devi, head of the National Weather Forecasting Centre (NWFC), said that conditions were ‘favourable’ for dense fog as there was a lot of moisture and very light winds.
“We have issued a fog warning. Dense to very dense morning fog is likely to occur in the Capital and surrounding areas for the next three days. Post November 9, we are expecting north-westerly winds to blow away the fog as well as bring down the temperature by a few degrees,” said Ms. Devi.
Still conditions
Adding to the forecast provided by the MeT Department, member secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board A. Sudhakar said: “Delhi and its neighbouring region are seeing almost still conditions at the ground level, but in the upper atmosphere there are two wind masses: one from Punjab, which is bringing pollutants from stubble burning and the other from eastern UP, which is bringing moisture. These are colliding at the higher altitude, leading to conditions where there is both moisture and pollution as well as no wind at the ground level.”
The early morning smog caused panic among parents taking their children to school.
“It looked like there was a fire burning nearby. We have been reading that the air quality is bad in the Capital but to wake up to see such dense smog was really alarming. Several parents called up the school to find out if it was safe,” said Akanksha Narain, welcoming the government’s decision to shut school for primary classes for a day on November 8.
