📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Fredericknoronha
Weather
Heavy Rain Relieves Humidity in Delhi-NCR, Yet AQI Stays Poor
✍️ The Hans India
🗓 20 Aug 2026, 01:38 PM
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A spell of heavy rain across Delhi and the National Capital Region eased the stifling humidity, but the air quality index remained in the poor range.
Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region experienced a brief but intense downpour on Tuesday, providing much‑needed relief from the oppressive humidity that has persisted for days. Meteorological officials recorded rainfall amounts of up to 15 mm in parts of the city, with streets briefly turning water‑logged before drainage systems cleared the flow.
Despite the cooling effect of the rain, the Air Quality Index (AQI) across monitoring stations stayed in the "poor" category, hovering around 200. Experts attribute the sustained pollution levels to lingering vehicular emissions and industrial activity, which the rain could not fully disperse.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee urged residents to continue using masks and to limit outdoor activities, especially in the early morning and evening when pollutant concentrations tend to rise again. Authorities also warned that the respite may be short‑lived if weather conditions revert to dry and windy patterns later in the week.
Despite the cooling effect of the rain, the Air Quality Index (AQI) across monitoring stations stayed in the "poor" category, hovering around 200. Experts attribute the sustained pollution levels to lingering vehicular emissions and industrial activity, which the rain could not fully disperse.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee urged residents to continue using masks and to limit outdoor activities, especially in the early morning and evening when pollutant concentrations tend to rise again. Authorities also warned that the respite may be short‑lived if weather conditions revert to dry and windy patterns later in the week.