Delhi records lowest PM10 levels in 6 months, temp falls due to rains

At 10 a.m., PM10 levels in Delhi-NCR stood at 32.5 microgram per cubic metre, the lowest since 15.9 µg/m3 recorded on August 18 last year

Early morning sky and deserted road during curfew imposed till March 31, 2020 as a preventive measure against spread of coronavirus, in New Delhi on March 24.

The sun shone bright in a cloudless blue sky in the national capital which recorded a significant drop in the mercury on Saturday due to intermittent rains over the last two days.

The city and its surrounding areas also recorded lowest concentrations of PM10, particulate matter 10 micrometres or less in diameter, since August 18 last year.

At 10 a.m., PM10 levels in Delhi-NCR stood at 32.5 microgram per cubic metre, the lowest since 15.9 µg/m3 recorded on August 18 last year.

The city’s overall air quality index at 11 a.m. stood at 40, which falls in the “good” category.

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Environment and weather experts attributed the improvement in the air quality to the

21-day lockdown enforced to contain the spread of the coronavirus and rains and gusty winds due to successive western disturbances.

They said the air quality is expected to oscillate in the good or satisfactory categories due to the reduction in local sources of pollution — vehicular pollution, construction dust, stack emissions etc. — due to the lockdown.

Delhi recorded a minimum of 15.7 degrees Celsius, four notches less than that recorded on Friday.

The Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative figures for the national capital, recorded 5.3 mm rainfall till 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The weather station at Palam recorded 3.2 mm rainfall.

The national capital has recorded 109.6 mm rainfall so far, the highest ever in March.