Delhi’s air quality improves slightly after rain, AQI shifts from ‘severe’ to ‘very poor’

Air pollution levels in Delhi improved slightly on Tuesday after light rain showers fell across parts of the Delhi-National Capital Region on Monday.

The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) reported Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) shifted from "severe" into the "very poor" category at 354 as of 9 AM. The reading marked a moderate decrease from 400 one day earlier.

Sporadic rainfall over the past 24 hours brought some relief for residents enduring hazardous pollution levels the previous fortnight. Early data showed localized AQI still spiked in sections of the metro region Tuesday morning.

#WATCH | Air quality in Delhi shows slight improvement with the rainfall it received yesterday. Drone visuals from the area around Red Fort.

(Visuals shot at 7:15 am) pic.twitter.com/o8idHCm2zY

— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2023

 AQI readings across Delhi-NCR

Anand Vihar logged a "very poor" 374 while the Ashok Vihar area measured a "severe" 402. Other official readings included 436 (very severe) in ITO, 376 (very poor) in Dwarka Sector 8 and 351 (very poor) at IGI Airport.

Citizens welcomed the temporary yet easing rainfall and cleaned air. Lodhi Road resident Vipin Kumar said, "Morning walks would feel good today. The weather is better today." Uday Pratap Singh commented, "There is some relief. There was a lot of pollution earlier but with the rain, it is better now. It feels good...."

#WATCH | A resident of Lodhi Road area, Vipin Kumar says, "Morning Walk would feel good today. Weather is good today. Rainfall has cleared the weather a lot..." pic.twitter.com/oqXl3Ngae2

— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2023

#WATCH | A resident, Uday Pratap Singh says, "There is some relief. There was a lot of pollution earlier but with the rain, it is better now. It feels good..." pic.twitter.com/ZIbaSC7U7j

— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2023

Per India's index standards, an AQI of 0-100 is considered "good," 100-200 is "moderate," 200-300 is "poor," 300-400 is "very poor," and 400-500+ is "severe." Elevated recent measurements followed the lifting of some pollution restrictions on construction and trucks

(With ANI inputs)