India, Oct. 17 -- After a period of consistently 'moderate' air quality, as measured by pollution monitoring stations across Pune, the city witnessed a brief spell of cleaner air on October 16 with the air quality index (AQI) dropping below 100, placing it in the 'satisfactory' category for the first time in several days. However, this relief is likely to be short-lived with pollution levels expected to rise again in the days leading up to Diwali due to dry weather and local emissions, as per experts and meteorological forecasts.

The decline in pollution levels has been largely due to light rainfall on October 15 that helped wash away particulate matter from the atmosphere. According to the Air Quality Early Warning and Decision Support ...