Delhi Breathes Cleanest Air In 6 Years. Here's What Centre's AQI Monitoring Panel Says

Delhi witnessed its cleanest air in the past six years from the period between January 1 and August 8, according to CAQM.

Light rain lashed parts of the Delhi and national capital region on Thursday (Image: PTI)

Source : PTI

Delhiites woke up to a pleasant, cloudy and windy morning on Friday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting light rain or thunderstorms over the national capital region today. The city also witnessed an improvement in the air quality following spells of heavy rain in the past few days during this monsoon season. Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 53 on Thursday, which falls in the satisfactory category, according to the Centre's air quality panel CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management).

CAQM data also shows that Delhi breathed its cleanest air for any day between January 1 and August 8 in the past six years. Taking to X, CAQM said that the city recorded its cleanest AQI for any day between January 1 and August 8 during the period from 2018 to 2024. 

The lowest ever daily avg. AQI of Delhi on any day during 01st January - 08th August for the period 2018-2024 (barring Covid affected 2020) was logged today i.e. 53.

— Commission for Air Quality Management (@CAQM_Official) August 8, 2024

An AQI of 51 to 100 is considered “satisfactory”, while 101 to 200 is ranked as “moderate” and 201 to 300 is ranked as “poor” as per CPCB standards. Numbers between 301 to 400 are considered as"very poor", and 401 to 500 are ranked as "severe".

Anything beyond "moderate" air quality causes breathing discomfort to people with lung diseases, asthma and heart diseases.

IMD Forecast For Delhi

Light rain lashed parts of the Delhi and national capital region on Thursday, with the maximum temperature settling at 34.1 degrees Celsius-- a normal during the season-- according to the India Meteorological Department. Traffic in the city was affected in several areas due to waterlogging and uprooting of trees following the rain. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) received 18 complaints related to waterlogging and 16 on uprooting of trees, as per a PTI report.

In its forecast for Friday, IMD said a generally cloudy sky with light rain is expected over the city. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to settle around 34 and 26 degrees Celsius, respectively.