Clouds cover Capital, pollution level stays low

New Delhi: The national Capital witnessed a cloudy morning on Saturday, with the minimum temperature being recorded at 25.4 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season's average. The maximum temperature, meanwhile, hovered around 35 degrees Celsius and humidity at 8.30 am was 82 per cent.

An official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the sky will remain cloudy throughout the day with chances of moderate rainfall in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Air-quality levels across Delhi-NCR was 'satisfactory' on Saturday, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

The Safdarjung observatory, the recording of which is considered the official figure for the city, received 10.3 mm rains in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the humidity oscillated between 92 and 66 per cent.

IMD has forecast generally cloudy skies, along with the likelihood of lights rains and thundershowers for Sunday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover at 36 and 27 degrees Celsius, respectively.

On Friday, the minimum and maximum temperature was 27.9 degrees Celsius and 35.6 degree Celsius, respectively.

The south-west monsoon hit the Capital this week, brining light rains on Monday and heavy showers on Thursday. As a result, Delhiites got respite not only from the sweltering heat, but also from the pollution which had peaked to unexpected levels this month.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) value for the Capital was a 'satisfactory' 83 on Friday. It touched this level on Wednesday as well, after the heavy pre-monsoon showers, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 as 'satisfactory', 101-200 as 'moderate', 201-300 as 'poor', 301-400 as 'very Poor', and 401-500 as 'severe'.

The last time residents of Delhi breathed such clean air was in August last year, an offi-cial with the CPCB said.