India, Jan. 9 -- Intermittent light rain was expected in isolated parts of Delhi on Friday, even as the air quality deteriorated to the "very poor" category, the mercury dipped 2.3 degrees below the normal to 4.6degC, and fog delayed at least 140 flights. The minimum temperature was the lowest for the month in two years since it was 3.5degC on January 16, 2024.

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 5.8degC on Thursday. It was expected to remain between 5-7degC on Saturday. The mercury was likely to go up to around 16-18degC on Friday, with chances of it dropping further over the weekend.

An Air Quality Index (AQI) of 325 (very poor) was recorded at 8am on Friday, compared to the 24-hour average of 280 (poor) at 4pm on Thursday and 289...