Delhi Records Worst Air Quality In Four Years As Cracker Ban Slips Through Cracks On Diwali

The already toxic air quality in Delhi dipped even further a day after Diwali on Sunday and slipped into the "severe" category.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) at ITO area and Anand Vihar was recorded as 461 and 478 respectively, according to Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) data.

Visibility was further reduced due to a thick blanket of smog in several areas across the national capital.

BCCL

The cracker ban was flouted across Delhi. With many Delhiites ignoring the cracker ban in the city, on Saturday night, the AQI was recorded as 414 ¡ª the worst AQI in the city since 2016 on Diwali.

#WATCH I Delhi: Smog shrouds parts of the national capital leading to decreased visibility; visuals from Geeta colony pic.twitter.com/MHmmMqX0L7

¡ª ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2020

The India Meteorological Department has said that a fresh western disturbance is likely to increase the wind speed and improve the air quality in Delhi-NCR post Diwali.

The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi has also said the situation is likely to "improve significantly" later today.

ANI

The AQI for PM 2.5 pollutant stood at 460 in Pusa, 475 in Patparganj, 450 in Lodhi Road, 491 in Ashok Vihar, 500 in Jahangirpuri and 442 in the IGI airport area. An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered moderate, 201-300 ¡®poor¡¯, 301- 400 ¡®very poor¡¯ and 401-500 ¡®severe¡¯, while the AQI above 500 falls in the severe plus category.

According to SAFAR, the share of stubble burning in PM 2.5 also increased from 14 per cent on Friday to 32 per cent on Saturday owing to transport-level North-Westerly winds with adequate speed.