Delhi: Amid rising cold wave and dense fog, AQI drops; people suffer heath issues

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The national capital continuous to be engulfed in cold wave and dense fog disrupting normal routines. Delhi on Saturday recorded a minimum temperature of 4.3 degrees Celsius, which is four notches below the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department. The weather is causing delay in train and flight services, while people have also started facing health issues.

Amidst the cold wave, the city also continues to be highly polluted, as its overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 9 am was recorded at 402- which falls under the 'severe' category, according to the data by the Central Pollution Control Board, news wire PTI reported.

As the cold weather and persistent pollution persist, locals, including asthma patients are grappling with health problems. The residents are complaining of health issues like cough, cold, throat irritation, chest tightness, low oxygen level, burning sensation in the eyes and high fever, ANI reported.

The number of patients in the hospital suffering from problems related to increasing cold has increased by 7 to 10 per cent, the report added. The Meteorological Department has also predicted that temperature will continue to dip for another few days.

Meanwhile, the weather conditions at Delhi has resulted in flight and train services been delayed. Several passengers are stranded at airport and railway station, ANI reported.

"The symptoms like cough, cold, throat irritation, chest tightness, low oxygen level, burning sensation in the eyes, and even high fever tal are being seen in people," Dr Suresh Kumar, Medical Director of Loknayak Jai Prakash Hospital, told ANI.

As Delhi is gripped with cold and dense fog, children are also developing chest infections. Dr Suresh has advised people to avoid going outside during fog, saying "Dense fog in the morning and evening is harmful to your health, hence people should avoid going out of the house at this time.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', between 51 and 100 is considered 'satisfactory.' While, AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'moderate', and AQI between 201 and 300 as 'poor'. An AQI between 301 and 400 is considered 'very poor', and between 401 and 500 falls under 'severe' category.

Apart from Delhi, several north Indian regions are under cold wave and dense to very dense fog is observed in parts of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. And moderate fog in isolated pockets of Delhi and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)