Delhi temperature likely to hit 30°C this week, says IMD
NEW DELHI: Air quality in Delhi the national capital was in the “poor” category on Monday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 288. Pollution levels are likely to hover between the “poor” and “very poor” categories over Delhi and other parts of northwest India due to calm winds in the evening that slow the dispersal of pollutants.
“Wind speed during day time is around 10kmph, but they are mostly calm during the evening. This is why we are not seeing any improvement in air quality. We are unlikely to record any significant improvement in the coming days either,” said VK Soni, scientist at IMD’S air quality division. Baghpat, Bulandshahr, Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Meerut recorded “very poor” air quality on Monday.
An AQI value between zero and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.
“With February coming to an end, we expect a rise in maximum and minimum temperatures. The maximum temperature is likely to rest between 30 to 31 degrees Celsius (°C), while the minimum is likely to be 12 to 13°C in the next three to four days. A western disturbance is impacting the Western Himalayan region. Once that moves away, there will be a marginal and brief drop in temperatures in the Capital as cold northwesterly winds will be blowing. But otherwise, it is likely to get warmer now,” said Kuldeep Shrivastava, head, regional weather forecasting centre.
On Monday the maximum temperature was 28.9°C, four degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature was 11°C, which is the normal mercury level for this time of year.
Under the influence of a fresh western disturbance, widespread rainfall or snowfall is very likely over Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan and Muzaffarabad; scattered rainfall/snowfall is likely over Himachal Pradesh for next 3 days and fairly widespread rainfall for the subsequent 2 days while scattered rainfall or snowfall is also likely over Uttarakhand during next 5 days.
Thunderstorm or lighting is very likely over Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan and Muzaffarabad during the next five days and over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand from February 23 to 26.
Isolated hailstorms are likely over Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan and Muzaffarabad on February 24 and 25; Himachal Pradesh on February 25 and 26 and over Uttarakhand during February 23 to 26.
With February coming to an end, we expect a rise in the maximum and minimum temperatures. KULDEEP SRIVASTAVA, India Meteorological Department
KOLKATA: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday is slated to quiz Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee’s wife Rujira Banerjee in connection with the alleged coal pilferage case. On Monday, the agency interrogated the lawmaker’s sister-in-law Menaka Gambhir for three hours in this regard.
“Though I am unaware of the reason for me being called for questioning or the subject matter of the investigation, you may visit my residence as per your convenience between 11 am and 3 pm tomorrow, i.e. 23 February, 2021,” Rujira said in a letter to CBI, news agency PTI reported. “You are requested to kindly inform me your schedule,” she added.
On Sunday, a team of CBI officials had visited the MP’S residence to deliver the summons but Rujira was not present. The agency asked her to join the probe in the matter.
It is alleged that illegallymined coal, worth several thousand crores of rupees, have been sold in the black market over several years through a racket operating in the western parts of West Bengal where the Eastern Coalfields Limited runs several mines. The sale proceeds were allegedly routed through numerous shell companies that the CBI, Income Tax department and Enforcement Directorate are now probing.
After the summonses were issued on Sunday, the TMC hit out the Bjp-led central government alleging political vendetta while the BJP claimed that the ruling party was trying to politicise the matter. The developments come ahead of the crucial assembly polls due in April/ May.