People seen on hot and humid day, in New Delhi on Thursday (June 19, 2025).
| Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
Delhi continued to record clean air for the second consecutive day, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) remaining in the ‘satisfactory’ category at 89.
On Wednesday, the city recorded its cleanest air in over eight months, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.
According to the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa credited the government’s 100-day action plan for the improvement in the capital’s air quality.
He said 6,482 km of roads were swept in just 24 hours, as part of over 11 lakh km cleaned since February 20, claiming that 1,353 km of roads were being sprinkled daily, with 744 kilolitres of water used in the last 24 hours.
“This improvement is not accidental. It is the result of a relentless 100-day effort — of policy-backed implementation, sustained on-ground action, and political determination. Delhi has finally proven that with the right will and vision, clean air is possible,” Mr. Sirsa said.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘yellow’ alert for thunderstorm and moderate to heavy rainfall in the capital for Thursday night.
The city recorded a maximum temperature of 34.6° Celsius on Thursday, five notches below the season’s normal, the IMD said.
The relative humidity was 82% at 8:30 a.m., while the minimum temperature was recorded at 27.2° Celsius, normal for this time of the season, it said.
The weather department has predicted thunderstorm with rain for Friday.
The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to settle around 37 and 28° Celsius, respectively, according to the IMD.
Published – June 20, 2025 07:51 am IST