Delhi sees cleanest air in 8 mths; on rain alert

Residents of Delhi woke up to a rare double delight on Wednesday: a sky softened by rain-laden clouds and the cleanest air the city has breathed in more than eight months.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

[e-mail] NEW DELHI: The downpour and cool winds continued for the second day, bringing respite from the searing heat and giving residents a break from Delhi's usual polluted skies.

The city's average air quality index (AQI) dropped to 81, squarely in the "satisfactory" category — its best reading since September 29 last year, when the AQI touched 76.

This marks just the third "satisfactory" air day of 2025. The last two occurred in March.

A "good" air day, with an AQI below 51, remains elusive—the last was recorded nearly two years ago, on September 10, 2023.

The improvement came on the back of continued rain and gusty winds. In the 24 hours leading up to 8.30am Wednesday, Delhi recorded 29mm of rain, pushing the June rainfall total to 87.8mm — already 18% above the long-term average of 74.1mm for the month.