Delhi achieves its first favourable air quality day thanks to rain and traffic restrictions
The significantly enhanced air quality coincided with the G20 Summit, a period during which vehicular mobility was restricted, and public areas were closed in the central Delhi area
New Delhi, September 11: Delhi experienced a significant improvement in its air quality, marking the best levels in 11 months, as a result of a combination of heavy overnight rain and limited vehicular movement due to G20-related restrictions in the central Delhi region.
On Sunday, the capital city recorded a 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 45 at 4 pm, marking the first "good" air day of the year. This reduction in pollution levels was the most significant since October 10 of the previous year when Delhi recorded an AQI of just 44.
Additionally, Delhi received 38.6mm of rainfall in the 24-hour period up to 8:30 am on Sunday, with an additional 1.3mm recorded until 5:30 pm. The improved air quality on Sunday marked a considerable improvement from the AQI of 54 just a day earlier, which had been the lowest of the year until that point. Prior to this, the AQI was recorded at 83 on Friday and 104 on Thursday.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) categorizes AQI levels as follows: 50 or lower as 'good', 51 to 100 as 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 as 'moderate', 201 to 300 as 'poor', 301 to 400 as 'very poor', and over 400 as 'severe'.