Delhi records cleanest air between January and March in three years

New Delhi: Delhi witnessed its cleanest air between January 1 and March 15 in the past three years, as per data from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).  

On Saturday, the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 85 as of 4 pm, categorising it as 'Satisfactory,' according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This marks the first 'Satisfactory' air quality day of 2025.  

The AQI scale defines air quality as 'Good' (0-50), 'Satisfactory' (51-100), 'Moderate' (101-200), 'Poor' (201-300), 'Very Poor' (301-400), and 'Severe' (401-500).  

In a statement on its X account, CAQM highlighted that Delhi recorded an average AQI of 85 on Saturday, the lowest for this period in three years. The commission also noted that it is the first time in five years that the city has recorded a 'Satisfactory' AQI during March.  

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Delhi’s maximum temperature on Saturday was 33 degrees Celsius, exceeding the seasonal average by 4.1 degrees. The minimum temperature was recorded at 18.7 degrees Celsius, with humidity levels fluctuating between 50% and 62%.  

On Friday, the capital experienced its hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures soaring to 36.2 degrees Celsius, 7.3 degrees above normal, according to IMD data.  

The weather forecast for Sunday suggests generally cloudy conditions with chances of light rain or drizzle. The expected maximum and minimum temperatures are around 32 and 17 degrees Celsius, respectively.

PTI