Avoid Delhi During Diwali as ‘Very Poor’ Air Quality Worsens Amid Firecracker Pollution

NEW DELHI, Nov 9: Air quality in the Indian capital deteriorated sharply on Monday, with pollution levels worsening following widespread firecracker bursting during Diwali celebrations.

According to a bulletin issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) late Monday afternoon, Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 344 over the previous 24 hours.

Residents woke up to a thick blanket of smog on Monday morning, with visibility significantly reduced in several parts of the capital.

Delhi also recorded its most polluted Diwali in five years, with an average AQI of 376, according to a Press Trust of India report. Data from Delhi government monitoring stations showed air quality ranging from ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ across different areas, with one monitoring station recording an AQI of 413.

The deterioration came after firecrackers continued to be set off until late Sunday night, despite restrictions imposed by India’s Supreme Court. The court had permitted the use of certified green crackers only during designated hours.

Authorities said anti-smog guns had been deployed in an effort to help reduce pollution levels.

Unfavorable weather conditions, vehicle emissions, Diwali celebrations and the peak season for stubble burning in neighboring states are among the factors expected to further worsen Delhi’s air quality.

Air pollution remains a persistent problem in New Delhi, particularly during the winter months, when farmers in neighboring states burn crop residue. The resulting emissions, combined with pollution from coal-fired power plants, industries and heavy vehicular traffic, often leave the capital shrouded in hazardous smog.