Jul 9, 2026 09:06 AM IST Delhi air cleanest this year after rain, temperatures dip; yellow alert for Thursday Successive spells of rain over the past two days have sharply improved Delhi’s air quality, with the Capital recording its cleanest air of the year so far.
At 59, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was in the ‘Satisfactory’ category around 4 pm on Wednesday — the lowest reading recorded at 4 pm in 2026 so far.
The previous low this year, at 73, was recorded on June 12, according to the Central Pollution Control Board data.
So far in July, Delhi has recorded ‘Satisfactory’ air quality (AQI between 51 and 100) on three days, while it was ‘Moderate’ (AQI between 101 and 200) on the rest of the days.
June had three days with ‘Satisfactory’ AQI, with the monthly average AQI standing at 141.
The Ridge weather station recorded 54.3 mm of rainfall during the past 24 hours, taking July’s figure so far to 79.1 mm — about 154 per cent above normal for the period.
Ayanagar recorded 51 mm of rainfall so far this month, around 45 per cent above its long-period normal of 35.1 mm.
Gurgaon, meanwhile, recorded 83 mm of rainfall till Wednesday morning.
