AQI improves after rain lashes Capital

HEAVY rain and thunderstorm not only brought a sudden dip in temperature but the high-velocity winds led to a significant improvement in the city’s air quality.

- Isha Gupta and Ajay Kumar

According to the meteorological department, Delhi on Friday recorded its highest 24-hour December rainfall in the last 22 years.

The Safdarjung Observatory, figures of which are considered official for the city, recorded 33.5 mm rainfall, the second-highest after 70 mm in December 1997, till 5:30 pm. The all-time high of 75.5 mm was recorded on December 3, 1923.

The overall air quality index (AQI) in the city read 240 at 4 pm on Friday which was hovering in the severe category (430) on Thursday.

The national capital recorded a minimum temperature of 12.8 degrees, the meteorological department said. The chill was in the air with the maximum temperature of 19.7 degrees, five notches below normal, being the lowest this season.