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Delhi's Monsoon Air Quality Worst in Seven Years, PM10 Levels Soar Despite Rain
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News18•30-09-2026, 20:30
Delhi's Monsoon Air Quality Worst in Seven Years, PM10 Levels Soar Despite Rain
- •Delhi recorded its most polluted monsoon period in seven years, with an average AQI of 105 between July and September.
- •The average AQI for July-September was the highest since 2019, just below 106 that year.
- •PM10 was the more prominent pollutant, with an average concentration of 108 micrograms per cubic metre, the highest since 2019.
- •CREA analysis indicates that the rise in PM10, despite above-normal rainfall, points to dust and coarse particles as major contributors.
- •A CSE study found that pollution relief during rainy spells was short-lived, with PM2.5 levels rising sharply after rain stopped.
Key Questions Answered
Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) between July and September stood at 105, marking the most polluted monsoon period in the city in seven years since 2019.
PM10 was the most prominent particulate pollutant, recording an average concentration of 108 micrograms per cubic metre, which is the highest since 2019.
Delhi received 728.6 mm of rainfall during the season against the normal 629.7 mm, representing an excess of nearly 16 percent despite a shorter monsoon duration.
