New Delhi, December 17: The major air pollutants in Delhi and the national capital registered on Tuesday was in "mid-moderate" category, according to the reports. Whereas, the major pollutants in Lodhi Road area was recorded at 'satisfactory' levels, reported news agency ANI. Over AQI in Delhi today, on Tuesday, stood at 159. On Monday, temperature dipped in Delhi and people had to run for extra cover with the maximum temperature falling several levels below the maximum temperature. The India Meteorological Centre (IMD) claimed that the cold spell could continue for the next two days.

The cold wave condition in the national capital is the result of heavy snowfall in the north. The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and the state of Himachal Pradesh witnessed severe snowfall in the past few days. The New Indian Express quoted IMD senior scientist Kuldeep Srivastava saying that, "A low cloud cover is currently persisting over northwest India, bringing the temperatures down by several notches in the northern part of India." Delhi Air Pollution: Supreme Court Pulls Up Punjab, Haryana Governments Over Stubble Burning.

“The overall Delhi AQI was in the higher end of the moderate category on December 16 morning. High northwesterly surface winds are forecast for next two days,” the SAFAR said in a statement. Delhi Air Pollution: Odd-Even Rule to End as Air Quality in Most Areas Remain in 'Severe' Zone.

Delhiites observed a cold day on Monday as the maximum temperature settled at 12.9 degree Celsius, 10 notches below the season's average, officials said. The air quality index (AQI) of the national capital was at 191 in the 'moderate' category at 6.41 pm, the Central Pollution Control Board data showed.

In the national capital region, Ghaziabad performed worse as its AQI stood at 266. The AQI of Faridabad, Gurgaon, Noida and Greater Noida was recorded at 197, 127, 233 and 260 respectively.

Nehru Nagar, with AQI of 318, was the most polluted area in the city followed by Jahangirpuri (307), Okhla (271) and Pusa (271). The city had witnessed drastic improvement in the air quality last week as the AQI was recorded in double digits at the 'satisfactory' category, after being seeing few of the worst air quality days in November.

The air in the national capital was so toxic after Diwali that the Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) had declared a public health emergency in Delhi-NCR and had advised people, especially children and the aged, to limit their exposure to the environment. (With Agency Inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 17, 2019 10:21 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).