Delhi's air quality plunged into the severe category on Diwali morning due to widespread firecracker celebrations, stubble burning in neighboring states, and unfavorable weather conditions, prompting health warnings across the capital.

Delhi's air quality plunged into the severe category on Diwali morning due to widespread firecracker celebrations, stubble burning in neighboring states, and unfavorable weather conditions, prompting health warnings across the capital.

Delhi's air quality plunged into the severe category on Diwali morning due to widespread firecracker celebrations, stubble burning in neighboring states, and unfavorable weather conditions, prompting health warnings across the capital.

Following a night of widespread firecracker celebrations, Delhi woke up to a thick blanket of toxic haze on Diwali morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) plunging into the 'severe' category across several parts of the capital.

Regions including Jahangirpuri, Punjabi Bagh and R. K. Puram recorded air pollution in the "severe" category. Twenty-four of the 54 monitoring stations recorded AQI levels above 400. Jahangirpuri recorded the worst with an AQI of 450. 

Meanwhile, cities adjoining the capital recorded "poor" to "very poor" air quality.  

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'.

As per the Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi, air quality is likely to remain in the 'severe' category on November 8 and 9.

As per the Supreme Court's order, the sale of certified green firecrackers is permitted in the Delhi-NCR between November and 6. As per the order, crackers are allowed only between 6 am and 7 am and from 8 pm to 10 pm on November 7 and 8. A complete ban is to be restored from November 9. 

On Saturday, the AQI remained at 369 (very poor category) at 4 pm on the CPCB's scale. Measured pollution first peaked on Saturday morning: between 10 am and 11 am, PM2.5. 

Driven by a 10-day surge in ISRO satellite fire counts, farm fires in Punjab and Haryana reached a seasonal high on Saturday. Coupled with calm evening winds, widespread firecracker usage caused the city’s air quality to deteriorate by 30% within just two hours of the 8 pm window opening

With the lighting of firecrackers during Diwali, along with stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, vehicular pollution, and falling temperatures, Delhi is in for a severe spell of toxic air for the coming days.

Health experts advised people to take against rising air pollution, warning that exposure to polluted air can pose serious health risks, particularly to children and people with pre-existing medical conditions.

TAGS