A thick layer of dust enveloped the national capital on Thursday morning following dust storms triggered by strong overnight winds, leading to reduced visibility and a decline in air quality across the city.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the dust storms were driven by gusty winds blowing at speeds between 30 and 40 kilometers per hour on Wednesday night. This sudden weather activity significantly impacted visibility, particularly at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, where visibility dropped sharply from 4,500 metres to just 1,200 metres between 10:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
Following the storm, wind conditions became calm to weak, with speeds ranging from 3 to 7 kilometers per hour. These low wind speeds have hindered the dispersal of dust particles in the air, keeping visibility levels low. As per IMD updates, visibility remained poor on Thursday morning, fluctuating between 1,200 and 1,500 metres at both Safdarjung and Palam airports.
The dust storm has also worsened the city’s air quality. After weeks of moderate air quality, the Air Quality Index (AQI) slipped into the ‘poor’ category. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an AQI of 236 at 8 a.m., indicating a notable deterioration in air quality.
The AQI scale categorizes air quality as follows: 0–50 is ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’, and 401–500 ‘severe’.
The weather department has forecast strong surface winds during the day, which could help in clearing the suspended dust particles and improve visibility and air quality.
Residents are advised to take precautions, especially those with respiratory issues, and limit outdoor activities until conditions improve.
