Delhi-NCR chokes in post-Diwali smog as people burst crackers defying the ban: AQI plummets to 'very poor' levels
Delhi woke up to a 'very poor' AQI this morning with a post-Diwali haze blanketing the city despite strict restrictions on firecrackers. On October 14, The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) had enforced a complete ban on manufacturing, storing, selling, and using firecrackers until January 1, 2025. Only 'green crackers,' considered less harmful, were allowed¡ªand even then, only during limited hours from 8 PM to 10 PM on Diwali night. But if you heard the relentless bursts of firecrackers well past (and pre) these hours, you might have wondered if a ban had even been in place at all.
Delhi's AQI post-Diwali: On November 1
This morning, post Diwali on October 31,? Delhi awoke under a thick blanket of smog, with the air quality index (AQI) in the National Capital Region hitting a troubling 361 in the 'very poor' category.?
The smoky haze was impossible to miss, as data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) showed the city's worst AQI levels at R K Puram, reaching a high of 398, followed closely by Sonia Vihar, Anand Vihar, and Burari, all nearing 400.
A staggering 36 monitoring stations reported AQI readings above 300, underscoring the widespread impact.?
Further, as of 11 PM on Thursday, the AQI was reported at 322 in Gurugram, according to the Sameer app, which offers hourly updates on national air quality from the CPCB.
For perspective, AQI levels between 0-50 are considered 'good,' with anything above 300 classified as 'very poor,' and over 400 as 'severe.'
The post-Diwali air quality drop is largely attributed to the burst of firecrackers, which cause the concentration of harmful particles like PM2.5 and PM10 to spike, worsening Delhi's 24-hour average AQI and leaving the city grappling with dangerous air.
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