Delhi Records Cleanest Post Dussehra Air As Rain Improves AQI
Delhi woke up to its cleanest post-Dussehra day in three years as a timely spell of rain and strong winds swept away pollutants, improving air quality and pushing the city’s AQI into the ‘satisfactory’ category. Data from the pollution monitoring agencies showed the index at 88 on Friday, down from 123 the previous day, breaking a 21-day stretch of ‘moderate’ air quality. Experts noted that this year’s festival did not trigger the usual spike in pollution due to favourable weather conditions.
The city has long struggled with worsening air quality around festive periods, particularly after Dussehra and Diwali, when large-scale burning of effigies and firecrackers aggravate an already fragile atmospheric condition. In past years, the day after Dussehra has consistently recorded high pollution, with AQI levels touching 224 in 2024 and as high as 353 in 2020, categorised as ‘very poor’. This year, however, rainfall in several parts of Delhi and strong north-westerly winds proved decisive in dispersing fine particulate matter.
Real-time data revealed interesting shifts. At Anand Vihar, PM2.5 levels surged to 96 µg/m³ by late evening before dropping sharply to 41 µg/m³ within a few hours. Similar trends were observed across monitoring stations in Ashok Vihar, Sonia Vihar, and Lajpat Nagar, where pollutants peaked but quickly declined due to atmospheric cleansing. Officials underlined that while rain offered a temporary reprieve, the underlying issue of high baseline pollution levels continues to remain a concern.
Meteorologists have forecast another round of rainfall accompanied by gusty winds in the coming days, raising hopes of continued respite. The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for moderate showers and thunderstorms through early next week. The dip in pollution coincides with temperatures hovering close to seasonal averages, with Friday’s maximum at 33.5°C and minimum at 23.7°C.
Environmental specialists stressed that while meteorology plays a key role in determining air quality, long-term solutions must go beyond weather-driven relief. They highlighted the need for structural reforms such as curbing stubble burning, regulating vehicular emissions, and creating decentralised urban green buffers. The shift towards zero-carbon mobility and cleaner energy sources remains critical if Delhi is to consistently achieve safe air quality standards, instead of depending on rain to wash away pollutants.
The rare clean post-Dussehra day offers a reminder of what the city’s air can look like under favourable conditions. For citizens, it provides temporary relief and clearer skies; for policymakers, it underlines the urgency of integrating sustainable planning into urban governance. As Delhi heads towards its most polluted season in the winter months, the present improvement may prove short-lived unless backed by robust action to combat the root causes of air pollution.
