The air quality in Delhi improved slightly as Delhi woke up to light rain on Thursday morning. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 7 am was 167, with air quality remaining in the ‘moderate’ category. On February 19, the AQI touched 180 in the national capital.

The air quality in Delhi has improved over the past few days. Rain is further expected to bring relief to the residents. The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi predicts ‘moderate’ air quality from 20–21 February, with AQI levels expected to range from ‘poor’ to ‘moderate’ over the next six days.

According to the city’s 24-hour average, the AQI in Gurugram was recorded in the ‘moderate’ category at 181, while Ghaziabad and Noida recorded 115 and 106, respectively, also in the moderate category.

The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) classifies the Air Quality Index into the following categories: 0-50 (good), 51-100 (satisfactory), 101-200 (moderate), 201-300 (poor), 301-400 (very poor), and 401-500 (severe). The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has already issued warnings regarding prolonged exposure to high levels of pollution, as it can cause severe respiratory illnesses.