Delhi air quality satisfactory, IMD predicts rain with thunderstorms

Delhi woke up to a cooler-than-usual morning on Thursday, with the minimum temperature dipping to 25°C — 2.3 degrees below the seasonal average — bringing some relief from the recent humidity.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a generally cloudy sky with moderate rainfall throughout the day, while the maximum temperature is expected to settle around 30.8°C, about 4 degrees below normal.

The change in weather comes after heavy rains on Wednesday brought much of the city to a halt, causing severe waterlogging and traffic snarls. Several areas, including MB Road, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, Kailash Colony, South Extension, NH-8 and ITO, were left inundated, with videos circulating online showing vehicles struggling through knee-deep water and schoolchildren wading through flooded streets.

A video from Sangam Vihar captured cars, two-wheelers, and delivery vehicles navigating submerged roads, while other clips showed water entering homes and schools. The Public Works Department (PWD) reported receiving 20 waterlogging-related complaints by Wednesday evening, though key hotspots like the Minto Bridge underpass remained unaffected. Quick Response Teams were deployed to dewater trouble spots, with most areas cleared within an hour, officials said.

In a satirical dig, AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj posted videos of residents floating in bathtubs and swimming through streets, sarcastically “thanking” the BJP-led government for offering “free water sports” in the capital.

Despite the chaos, the rains brought a measurable drop in temperature. Safdarjung recorded 9.3 mm of rainfall, while Lodhi Road and Pragati Maidan registered 11.2 mm and 6 mm, respectively.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘satisfactory’ category, with the AQI recorded at 76 at 9 AM. The CPCB classifies AQI between 51 and 100 as satisfactory, indicating acceptable air quality for the general public.

(With inputs from PTI)