The national capital witnessed light rainfall on Sunday providing respite to the heat-stricken city, reeling under relentless heatwave and intense heat, for the third day with the maximum temperature recorded at 41 degrees celsius.

South west Delhi’s Jafarpur area recorded the maximum temperature of 41 degrees celsius, two notches above the normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 29.1 degrees celsius, one degree above the normal. Moreover, the temperatures dipped below 40 degrees in several parts of the city, including Safdarjung, considered as a parameter for the whole of Delhi, which recorded 39.8 degrees Celsius, one degree above the normal. The minimum temperature settled at 29.6 degrees Celsius, two degrees above the normal.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier predicted a cloudy sky with thunderstorms and light rain accompanied with gusty winds for the city. Delhiites enjoyed their weekends outdoors as the rain provided some relief from the otherwise blistering heat in the city. According to the met department, the maximum temperature will hover around 40 degrees celsius till Saturday.

Maximum temperatures across the different parts of the city dropped to below 40 degrees celsius bringing respite to the people that have been hit not only by heat but also with water crisis and power outage. Pragati Maidan and Rajghat recorded the lowest maximum temperature of 38.1 degrees celsius, followed by 38.5 degrees at Pusa, 39.4 degrees at Lodi road, 39.5 degrees at Ridge and 39.8 degrees at Aya nagar.

Delhi’s relative humidity was 67 per cent at 8.30 am and 63 per cent at 5:30 pm. The IMD said that heatwave conditions have abated from Delhi under the influence of western disturbance and lower-level easterlies from Bay of Bengal.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital was recorded in the “moderate” category with a reading of 148 at 1 pm, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.