Delhi's air quality improves after rainfall

New Delhi: Delhi recorded its lowest pollution levels this year on Monday after rains washed away the pollutants and cleansed the air, but the air quality still remained in the "very poor" category, the authorities said.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city reached 316, which was in the "very poor" category.

As many as 31 areas in the national capital recorded a "very poor" air quality, while two areas registered a "poor" quality air, the CPCB said.

Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida in the National Capital Region (NCR) also recorded a "very poor" air quality, it added.

Delhi's air quality had improved significantly on Sunday after rains washed away the pollutants and cleansed the air on Saturday, the authorities said.

The air quality in the national capital has been oscillating between the upper range of "very poor" and "severe"

categories for the past two weeks. This was the first time that the air quality was recorded in the lower range of the "very poor" category, the CPCB said.