Delhiites breathing ‘good’ air for first time in the year as rains clear pollutants

Heavy rains in Delhi may have brought with it water-logging and other problems for the residents of the national capital, but it has also brought a lot of good news too. Delhi's infamous air quality turned 'good' this week for the first time in the year after continuous rains washed away the pollutants in the air.

Authorities said that July 27 was the first day in the year when Delhi's air quality turned "good" due to rains. The Air Quality Index of New Delhi on Friday was recorded at 43 which falls under the "good" category, Gufran Beig, a scientist at the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research Institute (SAFAR), said.

Beig said the monsoon had led to a flow of clean moisture-laden winds into the city that was cleansing the air and Delhiites breathed "good" quality air for the first time this year.

An AQI in the range of 0-50 is considered "Good", 51-100 "Satisfactory", 101-200 "Moderate", 201-300 "Poor", 301-400 "Very Poor" and 401-500 "Severe".

The PM10 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 10mm) was recorded as "good" at 39 in Delhi-NCR and 32 in Delhi.

While the air quality in Delhi on Sunday ranged from 55 to 130, it was much lower on Friday and Saturday after rains washed away the air pollutants.

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

Although rains have brought a different set of problems with them including a flood warning as the water level in Yamuna river continues to rise. 

The Yamuna's water level has crossed the danger mark, prompting authorities to evacuate people from low-lying areas.

Water level in Yamuna river today rose to at 205.46 meters. While the warning level for the Yamuna is 204 metres, the danger level is marked at 204.83 metres.

"Till now, 1500 people have moved from low-lying areas. 550 tents pitched across 10 locations in East district. If more people need to be evacuated and accommodated, we have schools and night shelters," said a senior Delhi government official.

On Friday, Delhi and adjoining areas experienced heavy rainfall, followed by severe water-logging and traffic jams in several areas.

(With PTI inputs)