Highlights
- Despite the legal deterrent in place, people in many parts of the city, including in south and northwest Delhi, started bursting crackers by dusk. High-intensity firecrackers could be heard going off on the ground or mid-air.
- Most polluted areas were in South Delhi. The most polluted stations were RK Puram, Okhla, Karni Singh Shooting range, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Day after Diwali, Delhi’s air quality turned ‘very poor’ amid an increase in stubble burning and bursting of crackers.
Delhi registered an AQI of 323 while Noida, which is part of the national capital region along with Delhi and Gurugram, recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 342 on Tuesday morning. Air quality in the range of 301-400 can cause respiratory illness on prolonged exposure.
AQI dips despite firecracker ban
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai last week said bursting firecrackers in the national capital on Diwali will attract a jail term of up to six months and a fine of ₹ 200. Despite the legal deterrent in place, people in many parts of the city, including in south and northwest Delhi, started bursting crackers by dusk. High-intensity firecrackers could be heard going off on the ground or mid-air.
Meanwhile, the national capital’s air quality plummeted on Diwali day, hitting the “very poor” category, becoming the first “very poor” air day of the season for Delhi.
Most polluted areas in Delhi
According to data from 40 monitoring stations listed on the government website showing the National Air Quality Index, Lodhi Road registered an AQI of 273, Gurugram had an AQI of 245 and Madhura recorded an AQI of 322 at 6:30 am today. However, due to favorable climatic and meteorological conditions, air quality has improved when compared to Monday night.
Pollution levels peaked at around midnight as high-decibel firecrackers thundered throughout Diwali night, but started improving post 1 am. Data shows that almost all the stations in the capital saw a sharp increase in pollutants from 8 pm to 1 am due to the bursting of crackers. Most polluted areas were in South Delhi. The most polluted stations were RK Puram, Okhla, Karni Singh Shooting range, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
However, the 24-hour average AQI of 312 was still the second-best for Diwali in seven years. The city recorded an AQI of 281 on Diwali in 2018.
