Why did Delhi's air quality worsen despite rainfall on Tuesday?

Despite rainfall, Delhi's air quality deteriorated to the 'Very Poor' category with an AQI of 336, indicating that precipitation did not effectively clear the pollutants.

What were the AQI levels in Noida and Gurgaon on Tuesday?

Both Noida and Gurgaon experienced a drop in air quality to the 'Very Poor' category, with Noida recording an AQI of 331 and Gurgaon an AQI of 306.

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Rain Fails to Clear Delhi's Smoggy Skies

Q: What are the weather predictions for Delhi-NCR on Wednesday?

The India Meteorological Department forecasts a cloudy sky with no rainfall for Wednesday, and anticipates cold wave conditions in Gurgaon and Faridabad.

28 Jan

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Summary

Delhi's AQI rose to 336 in 'Very Poor' category on Tuesday.
Noida and Gurgaon also saw air quality drop to 'Very Poor'.
Rainfall recorded across Delhi-NCR did not improve air quality.

Rain Fails to Clear Delhi's Smoggy Skies

Delhi's air quality deteriorated sharply on Tuesday, reaching the 'Very Poor' category with an AQI of 336, despite experiencing rainfall and thunderstorms. This marks a significant rise from Monday's AQI of 241, which was already in the 'Poor' category. The National Capital Region (NCR) also witnessed a similar decline. Noida's AQI jumped from 219 to 331, and Gurgaon's rose from 276 to 306, both landing in the 'Very Poor' range. Rainfall was recorded across various stations, with Safdarjung station in Delhi receiving 4.2 mm, and Palam station recording the highest at 14.6 mm. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a cloudy sky with no rainfall for Wednesday and anticipates cold wave conditions in Gurgaon and Faridabad. Earlier, on January 24, a similar spell of rain had brought Delhi's AQI down to 184 in the 'Moderate' category, a level not seen since October 31, 2025. Experts attribute the persistent winter pollution to factors like thermal inversion and calm winds hindering pollutant dispersion.