The national capital continues to grapple with a harsh winter as Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 4.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday, 17 January 2026.
While this marks a marginal increase from the previous day, an intense cold wave persists across the region, severely affecting daily life. Simultaneously, the city’s air quality remains a major health concern, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) settling at 368 in the ‘very poor’ category.
Commuters faced significant challenges as visibility dropped to near zero in several areas due to a dense blanket of fog. Authorities have responded by re-implementing strict anti-pollution measures to prevent further atmospheric deterioration.
Delhi Fog
The current weather conditions follow a week of bone-chilling temperatures that have kept residents indoors. Earlier this week, Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi’s primary weather station, recorded temperatures as low as 2.9 degrees Celsius, marking the coldest night in three years.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had previously issued orange alerts as the cold wave deepened across North India.
Although the mercury rose slightly to 4.4 degrees this morning, the relief was overshadowed by the return of dense fog. This atmospheric stability has created a trap for pollutants, ensuring that the air remains thick with smog even as the sun struggles to break through the haze.
GRAP-III Curbs
In response to the deteriorating air quality and the risk of the AQI breaching the ‘severe’ 400-mark, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect across the NCR.
This move brings back a ban on non-essential construction and strict restrictions on the plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers. An official from the CAQM noted that slow wind speeds and a stable atmosphere are preventing the dispersal of pollutants.
The IMD forecast suggests that while temperatures might rise slightly to 8 or 9 degrees Celsius by Monday, moderate to dense fog will likely continue to disrupt morning travel and keep the air quality in the ‘very poor’ range.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The recurring duo of biting cold and toxic air has become a grim annual ritual for the people of Delhi, yet it remains a crisis that demands more than just seasonal emergency measures.
While the implementation of GRAP Stage-III is a necessary step to curb immediate pollution, it often feels like a reactive bandage on a deep-seated environmental wound. As a society, we must move beyond temporary bans and foster a dialogue on long-term urban planning and sustainable transportation.
We owe it to the most vulnerable among us, including the elderly and those living on the streets, to ensure that the basic right to breathe clean air and find warmth is protected through collective empathy and systemic change.
