India, Oct. 30 -- Incessant rain swept across Delhi and its suburbs through Thursday (October 29) night, cutting temperatures sharply, soaking roads and clearing the air. Residents woke on Friday to a wintry nip and overcast skies, with the weather office expecting showers to persist through the day before conditions settle early next month.

Delhi's overall air quality index stood at 76 on Friday morning, the Central Pollution Control Board said, placing the city in the satisfactory category after levels had stayed above 200 on both Wednesday and Thursday. A separate board reading for 4 am on Friday put the index at 133 in the moderate band, however, and the reports available did not reconcile the two figures.

Station-level readings var...