New Delhi, July 31
Continuous rainfall in Delhi-NCR on Thursday has brought much-needed respite from the sweltering heat, while simultaneously delivering a remarkable improvement in air quality.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), July 2025 has recorded the cleanest air in over a decade, with Air Quality Index (AQI) readings falling below 50 in several parts of the region -- a level categorised as “very good”.
This drastic improvement is largely attributed to the frequent rain showers over the past week, which have significantly reduced dust and airborne pollutants. However, while the rains have cleansed the atmosphere, they have also led to waterlogging and traffic congestion, posing a major challenge for the municipal authorities and daily commuters.
As of July 31, many monitoring stations across Delhi-NCR reported AQI levels in the 20s and 30s. Prominent locations such as Alipur (28), Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium (38), Bawana (36), Narela and Nehru Nagar (both 48), Indirapuram in Ghaziabad (31), and Noida’s Sector 62 and Sector 1 (both 34) registered some of the cleanest air seen in the capital in recent memory -- often even cleaner than hill stations.