Delhi Pollution: Brief Rains Bring Limited Respite from Smog, Yet Air Quality Remains 'Very Poor'

According to the India Meteorological Department, the minimum temperature in the national capital was registered at 14.2°C, surpassing the season's average by four notches.

On Monday, the maximum temperature reached 24.2°C, two notches below the normal.

Moreover, the relative humidity at 8.30 a.m on Tuesday was recorded at 96 per cent.

In the last 24 hours, the national Capital recorded 7 mm of rainfall till 8.30 a.m on Tuesday, according to the IMD.

Due to the downpour, the air quality witnessed a slight improvement but was still in the "very poor "category at several AQI monitoring stations.

Anand Vihar entered the "very poor" category with PM 2.5 at 346 and PM 10 at 228, in the "poor" category, while the CO reached 57, in the "satisfactory" category while NO2 was at 41 or "good", as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

At Aya Nagar, the PM 2.5 reached 328, in the "very poor" category and PM 10 was at 183, under the "moderate" category. The CO was recorded at 67, under the "satisfactory" category.

However, the AQI monitoring station at Dwarka sector 8 recorded PM 2.5 at 401, in the "severe category", while PM 10 was at 268 or "poor" while the CO was at 75, in "satisfactory" levels.

The AQI at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport station was in the "very poor" category with PM 2.5 at 326 and PM 10 at 169, in the "moderate" category, while the CO was at 88, in the "satisfactory" level.

The PM 2.5 at Okhla Phase-II was recorded at 335, in the "very poor" category while PM 10 reached 188, under the "moderate" category. The NO2 was 78 and CO at 54, in the "satisfactory" levels.

The AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good"; 51 and 100 "satisfactory"; 101 and 200 "moderate"; 201 and 300 "poor"; 301 and 400 "very poor"; and 401 and 500 "severe".

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The above article has been published from a wire agency with minimal modifications to the headline and text.