After A Six-Day 'Near Severe' Air Spell, Rain Brings Relief For City

Rain and strong winds on Monday and Tuesday helped drive out pollutants that had stubbornly clung on to Delhi’s air for weeks, giving the city its best air quality in several days.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

The Capital’s 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) improved to 312 (very poor), significantly better than 395 at the same time on Monday, and the lowest since November 19, when the average AQI was 301. This number plunged through the day, dropping into the “poor” category with a reading of 275 by 9pm.

The hourly average AQI, which is a better indicator of air quality in a given moment, fared even better, dropping from 358 at 8am to 141 by 6pm. However, this number inched up again later in the evening, as the effects of the rain and wind began to slowly wear off.