Delhi breathes easier! Incessant rain transforms toxic air quality from severe to moderate
Persistent rainfall in Delhi has led to a significant improvement in air quality, shifting the Air Quality Index from 'severe' to 'moderate,' while also causing disruptions like tree uprooting and road collapses due to heavy winds and rain.
New Delhi: In a surprising turn of events, the air quality in Delhi has significantly improved due to relentless rainfall. The Central Pollution Control Board reported that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital registered at 179 at 7 AM on Saturday. This marks a shift from the previous day's severe pollution levels, with the AQI now classified as "moderate." The AQI scale categorizes levels from 0-50 as good, 51-100 as satisfactory, 101-200 as moderate, 201-300 as poor, 301-400 as very poor, and 401-500 as severe.
Temperature and Weather Conditions
On Friday, Delhi's air quality transitioned from the "severe" category to "poor," and further improved to "moderate" today. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded a temperature of 13.8 degrees Celsius at 5:30 AM on Saturday. The minimum temperature is anticipated to drop to 12 °C, while the maximum is expected to reach around 20.98 °C.
The relative humidity stands at a comfortable 74%, complemented by strong winds gusting up to 74 km/h. Overcast skies with persistent rain have created a refreshing atmosphere for residents. Sunrise occurred at 07:12 AM, with sunset scheduled for 05:32 PM.
Impact of Rainfall on Daily Life
Residents have been seen gathering around bonfires for warmth as temperatures continue to fall in the National Capital. The incessant rains have caused disruptions, including the uprooting of trees in various areas. Notably, in Sector-9, RK Puram, a section of road collapsed, resulting in a motorcycle and car falling into the void.
Forecast and Warnings from IMD
The IMD has forecasted moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms across several locations in Delhi and NCR throughout the day. Areas likely to experience significant rainfall include Palam, Safdarjung, Lodi Road, IGI Airport, Mehrauli, Chhattarpur, Ayanagar, Deramandi, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Manesar.
Additionally, Noida and Manesar are expected to witness moderate to heavy rainfall along with lightning strikes.The forecast extends beyond Delhi; light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms is also predicted for parts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Specific areas mentioned include Yamunanagar, Jhajjar, Farukhnagar, Hodal in Haryana; Saharanpur, Gangoh, Deoband in Uttar Pradesh; and Tizara and Alwar in Rajasthan
