The month of April, wasn't so bad for Delhi, the Capital city recorded the cleanest air in six years, as it recorded more 'good' to 'moderate' air quality index (AQI below 201) days against the same period from 2018 onwards - save for 2020, when Covid-related restrictions were in place, said the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Tuesday.

Twenty-three - the number of days the Capital recorded AQI below 201 in April this year, against 17 in April 2023, nil (2022), 18 (2021), 12 (2019), and eight (2018), shows data. Only in 2020, the city recorded better air quality in April, when the AQI was below 201 through the month amidst Covid restrictions in place.

An AQI between zero and 50 ('good') is considered to have a minimal impact on the residents, while AQI between 51 and 100 ('satisfactory') may cause minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people, and AQI between 101 and 200 ('moderate') may cause breathing discomfort to people suffering from asthma, lung and heart diseases, said the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The Capital recorded seven days of AQI between 'poor' to 'severe' in April 2024 - at 201 or higher; which during April.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data showed that Delhi has recorded no heatwave this April, much like that of April 2023 with similar weather conditions. The average maximum temperature in April 2024 was 36.9 degree Celsius - a little over the normal of 35.3 degree Celsius for the month last year; and lower than the average of 40.2 degree Celsius in April 2022, when the city recorded a heatwave for nine days.

Meanwhile, the Capital has recorded a 54% rainfall deficit this April, having received only showers of 7.5 mm against a normal of 16.3 mm.