Delhi: The national capital was blanketed in toxic haze on Tuesday as relentless bursting of firecrackers during Diwali pushed the air quality index (AQI) into the ‘severe’ category, a day after the festival. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the average AQI stood at 451 early Tuesday morning – nearly 1.8 times the national safe limit – as pollution levels spiked amid celebrations.
Later in the morning, Delhi’s AQI improved slightly to the ‘very poor’ category, with a reading of 352 at 9 am. The satellite cities of Noida and Gurgaon were similarly affected, recording AQI levels of 407 and 402, respectively.
Monitoring stations record hazardous levels
Several monitoring stations in Delhi registered critically high pollution levels. Wazirpur recorded an AQI of 435, Dwarka 422, Ashok Vihar 445, and Anand Vihar 440, all falling in the ‘severe’ category.
To put this in context, the AQI scale ranges from 0 to 500, with 0–50 considered ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’, and 401–500 ‘severe’.
Crackers rules flouted
Since 2020, the bursting of crackers has been banned in Delhi to curb winter pollution. This year, the Supreme Court allowed green crackers in the Delhi-NCR region from October 18 to 20, with permissible time slots from 6 am to 7 am and 8 pm to 10 pm. However, residents ignored the rules, igniting crackers well outside the designated windows.
Experts warned that even green crackers, when combined with stagnant weather conditions, are capable of producing hazardous pollutants. The Delhi Fire Services received 269 emergency calls on Diwali night, though no major accidents or casualties were reported.
Measures to mitigate pollution
In anticipation of deteriorating air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had enforced Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which includes intensified dust control, expansion of public transport services, and restrictions on diesel generator sets.
Authorities in Delhi-NCR have also initiated daily mechanical road sweeping and water sprinkling to reduce particulate matter.
Weather conditions
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said smoggy conditions were likely to persist due to the absence of strong winds. Partly cloudy skies are expected in the morning hours across several areas. Maximum temperatures are forecast between 31–33°C, while minimum temperatures are expected to range between 20–22°C. The minimum temperature is 1–3 degrees above normal, with the maximum close to seasonal averages.
Conclusion
Delhi’s post-Diwali air pollution underscores the challenges of controlling seasonal smog, particularly when festive firecrackers are involved. Experts stress the need for stricter adherence to regulations and proactive measures to protect public health during winter months.