Delhi’s air quality has significantly improved due to continuous rainfall. As of 7:00 am on Saturday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital was recorded at 179, falling under the “moderate” category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.
For reference, AQI levels are categorized as follows:
- 0-50: Good
- 51-100: Satisfactory
- 101-200: Moderate
- 201-300: Poor
- 301-400: Very Poor
- 401-500: Severe
On Friday, Delhi’s air quality shifted from the “severe” category to “poor,” and it further improved to “moderate” on Saturday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded a temperature of 13.8°C at 5:30 am on Saturday. The minimum temperature for the day is expected to dip to 12°C, while the maximum will reach 20.98°C. The relative humidity is at 74%, with gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 74 km/h. The sky remains overcast with persistent rain, making the day relatively pleasant. Sunrise occurred at 7:12 am, and the sun is expected to set at 5:32 pm.
In response to the cooler temperatures, people were seen gathering around bonfires to stay warm as the mercury continued to dip across the national capital.
Incessant rainfall has also caused significant disruptions. Heavy rain and gusty winds led to the uprooting of trees in several parts of Delhi. In Sector-9, RK Puram, a section of the road collapsed, causing a motorcycle and car to fall into the affected area.
The IMD has predicted moderate to heavy rainfall, along with thunderstorms, at several locations across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). Areas including Palam, Safdarjung, Lodi Road, IGI Airport, Mehrauli, Chhattarpur, Ayanagar, Deramandi, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Manesar are expected to experience continued rainfall throughout the day. Noida and Manesar are also likely to see moderate to heavy rainfall and lightning.
The IMD has extended its rainfall forecast to parts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, with light to moderate rain and thunderstorms expected in several locations, including Yamunanagar, Jhajjar, Farukhnagar, and Hodal in Haryana; Saharanpur, Gangoh, Deoband, Muzaffarnagar, Sakoti Tanda, Baraut, Daurala, Baghpat, Meerut, Modinagar, Kithor, and Nandgaon in Uttar Pradesh; and Tizara and Alwar in Rajasthan.