With strong winds, rains, Delhiites likely to get respite from severe 'air-quality'

Light rains along with cool breeze and thunderstorm in several parts of national capital likely to bring much-needed respite to Delhiites from the air quality index (AQI) plunging to severe level owing to a layer of cloud and pollutants.

Under the influence of a western disturbance, rain lashes various parts of Delhi-NCR including Hauz Khas, Lodhi Road, RK Puram, Paharganj, Rohini.

Intense rains and thunderstorm were also experienced at isolated places over Haryana and Punjab on Thursday, India Meteorological Department said.

The minimum and maximum temperature are expected to be around 12.8 degrees Celsius and a high of 21.5 degrees Celsius, the Met said.

With this, Delhi is witnessing a drop in temperature and reduction in toxic level presence in the air, bringing partial relief for Delhites.

Delhi's air quality turned to the 'severe' category today with the overall air quality index (AQI) recorded at 407 at 4 pm on Thursday.

The AQI in the neighbouring areas of Delhi was also high with Ghaziabad Noida and Greater Noida and Faridabad at 470, 422 and 398 respectively, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR).

Thunderstorm with hail may occur in Delhi on Friday.

While the moderate fog was observed in some places over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab, the thunderstorm was observed at isolated places over West Rajasthan.

"Rain and thunderstorm were at most places over Himachal Pradesh; at a few places over Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Punjab, East Madhya Pradesh and West Rajasthan and at isolated places over Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, East Uttar Pradesh, East Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat State and Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam," the IMD said.

Meanwhile, Twitterati shared several pictures of downpour in Delhi. While some hope for good air quality, a few seem worried about traffic caused by rains in the national capital.

"Can you imagine tomorrow's traffic conditions after the first winter rainfall? #DelhiRains #Rain #Delhi #TrafficAlert," a Twitterati wrote.

The lush green Dhauladhar mountain range in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra and the Himalayan region in Uttarakhand witnessed snowfall.

According to the weather department, the chilly wind will continue in the national capital due to heavy snowfall at various places in the Himalayan region.

( With inputs from ANI )