New Delhi, 23 January (H.S.): Delhi-NCR's air quality registered significant improvement on Friday, buoyed by relentless downpours that alleviated prolonged pollution woes, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) declining from Thursday's 322 to 282.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data recorded Delhi's AQI at 282 by 4 PM. Ghaziabad stood at 278, Noida at 270, Greater Noida at 249, Gurugram at 227, and Faridabad at 216—all classified as 'Poor.' Other locales like Wazirpur (329), Siri Fort (328), Anand Vihar (317 by 3 PM), Rohini (313), Chandni Chowk (306), Punjabi Bagh (302), and Narela (301) lingered in the 'Very Poor' category.

Pockets of Moderate ReliefITO clocked 284, Najafgarh 253, IIT Delhi and Sri Aurobindo Marg both at 250, and Aya Nagar at 240, remaining 'Poor.' Lodhi Road (193), IGI Airport (190), and Pusa IMD (185) offered respite in the 'Moderate' range, underscoring rain's cleansing impact amid persistent urban haze challenges.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar