The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts for heavy rainfall across several parts of India, even as the national capital continues to grapple with persistent air pollution. According to the latest weather update, isolated heavy rainfall is expected in Tamil Nadu on November 10. Simultaneously, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are likely to experience heavy showers between November 10 and 14. Further alerts have been issued for Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura, where heavy precipitation is expected on November 11.
In North India, the weather pattern is shifting due to the influence of a Western Disturbance. The IMD has forecast scattered to fairly widespread rainfall and snowfall across the Western Himalayan Region. Specifically, the Kashmir Valley is expected to see isolated heavy rainfall or snowfall on November 12 and 13. These climatic shifts are expected to impact local temperatures and visibility in the northern regions over the coming days.
For the national capital, Delhi, the IMD has predicted a partly cloudy sky with moderate fog expected in the morning hours. Temperature readings are forecasted to remain within the range of 27°C to 29°C for the maximum, while the minimum is expected to hover between 14°C and 16°C. The weather agency noted that while minimum temperatures are likely to stay near normal, maximum temperatures may remain slightly below average across most parts of the city.
Beyond the weather outlook, the focus in Delhi remains fixed on its air quality, which continues to fall under the 'very poor' category. Data from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CQAM) recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 311 early Tuesday. This follows a reading of 344 at 4 pm on Monday, an improvement from the 376 reported at the same time on Diwali day, Sunday.
However, the accuracy of these figures has become a subject of intense scrutiny. Reports indicated that Delhi experienced its most polluted Diwali in five years. Critics and experts have pointed out that official government figures may not fully capture the severity of the situation, particularly after several monitoring stations went offline during the peak hours of firecracker use on Sunday night. Discrepancies between official reports and data from private agencies have become more pronounced, with some private platforms recording hazardous levels as high as 637 on Monday morning.
These variations in reported pollution levels have reignited debates regarding the reliability of the current monitoring network. Concerns raised by experts center on the coverage of these sensors, the methodology used for data averaging, and the specific parameters applied by different agencies. While officials maintain their data-gathering standards, the stark contrast between official reporting and private measurements continues to draw attention to the challenges of managing and monitoring air quality in the capital.
As the IMD monitors the developing weather conditions across the country, residents in the affected states have been advised to remain cautious of the anticipated heavy rainfall and potential snowfall in higher altitudes. Meanwhile, in Delhi, the combination of stagnant meteorological conditions and pollution levels remains a significant concern for authorities and citizens alike, highlighting the ongoing struggle to mitigate hazardous air quality in the region.
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