Delhi Sees Rain On First Sunday Of 2019, Pollution Levels Fall Sharply

Rain brought respite for residents of Delhi on the first Sunday of 2019, as the national capital recorded its lowest pollution level of the year.

"It's a wonderful morning in Delhi. Welcome first winter rain so vital for farmers and tackling pollution," a city resident tweeted.

Traffic remained light on roads where trucks are usually seen moving in the morning, while early morning shops outside offices remained shut.

The air quality fell from the 'severe' level on Saturday to 'very poor' today, authorities told news agency Press Trust of India. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city was 347.

Delhi rain: The rain started in the early hours of Sunday

The air quality in Delhi fell to the "severe" category on Saturday after a slight improvement on Friday. Officials had predicted that sufficient rain would bring down the pollution levels in the city.

"During the day, a partly cloudy sky can be seen with gusty winds, which is likely to lead to light rains or thundershower later in the day," an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official had forecast on Saturday.

The Delhi government has not ruled out enforcing the odd-even traffic rule if pollution levels in the city spiked above safe limits.

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