Delhi breathes clean air for first time in nearly a year

After a long spell of dust storms and scorching heat, Delhi finally received a relief as south-west monsoon hit the city this week with light rain on Monday and heavy showers yesterday.

According to reports, the rains helped settle the pollution in the capital city and Delhiites breathed the cleanest air this week, in the satisfactory level, for the first time in nearly a year.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) value for the capital was a "satisfactory" at 83 today, according to the Central Pollution Control Board data.

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An Air Quality Index (AQI) between 0-50 is considered "Good", 51-100 "Satisfactory", 101-200 "Moderate", 201-300 "Poor", 301-400 "Very Poor", and 401-500 "Severe".

The last time when Delhi's air quality was recorded under "satisfactory" category was around a year ago in August, an official with the Central Pollution Control Board said.

"The air quality will further improve tomorrow and in the coming days. The monsoon winds cleaned the dusty air and brought the air quality to "satisfactory level," said Gufran Beig, a scientist at the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research Institute (SAFAR).

The air quality might even touch even 'good' level in the coming days, Beig added.

(With inputs from PTI)