Pre-monsoon shower brings air quality back to 'satisfactory' level in Delhi

With the south-west monsoon lashing several parts of the national capital, Delhiites on Thursday breathed the cleanest air in the last one year, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

The capital city on Monday witnessed light rain while heavy showers brought respite from the scorching heat on Thursday. 

The monsoon winds have brought back the air quality to the satisfactory level washing away the dust for the first time in nearly a year.

As per the Central Pollution Control Board data, the Air Quality Index (AQI) value on Wednesday touched 83 following the heavy pre-monsoon showers.

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".

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The last time Delhiites breathed such fresh air was in August last year, 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, he added.

There was a dip in the air quality level on June 13 due to dust storms in western India that pushed the air quality level to "severe plus," bringing to light that emergency level pollution could be a "summer-time problem" too.

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(With inputs from PTI)