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Diwali weather: Delhi's air quality continues to be 'very poor', likely to become 'severe' by night

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital is expected to go in the 'severe' category on Diwali.

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People in Delhi woke up to a further spike in air pollution as the city continued to remain engulfed in a blanket of smog with the air quality index in 'severe' and 'very poor' category at several places on Saturday morning.

The city recorded an AQI of 369 at 9 am on Saturday.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) was at 424 (severe) in Anand Vihar, at 328 (very poor) in IGI Airport area, 400 (very poor) in ITO, and 354 (very poor) in RK Puram, according to Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) data.

The 24-hour average AQI was 339 on Friday and 314 on Thursday.

An AQI between 0-50 is marked good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101- 200 is moderate, 201- 300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor and 401-500 is considered severe.

The neighbouring cities of Faridabad (323), Ghaziabad (412), Noida (362), Greater Noida (350), and Gurgaon (338), which fall in the National Capital Region (NCR), also recorded their AQI is the 'very poor' and 'severe' categories.

The visibility in the national capital has reduced due to the presence of a high level of smog in the air.

According to experts, the severe category affects the health of people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases. People who are suffering from asthma or other respiratory ailments should prefer working from home.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital is expected to go in the 'severe' category on Diwali.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality monitor, SAFAR, said the PM2.5 concentration in Delhi on Diwali is likely to be the lowest in the last four years if no firecrackers are burnt.

A spike in PM2.5 levels in the early hours Sunday is likely if firecrackers are burnt, it said.

"Presently Delhi's Air Quality is very poor and is expected to go worse to severe on Diwali. It can be worse if there are additional emissions. AQI will improve after Diwali and there are chances of drizzle and rain on November 15," said Dr VK Soni, Head, Environment and Research Centre of IMD.

"During this period the meteorological conditions are not favourable for good dispersion of air pollutants and further there will be little additional emission from firecrackers and traffic. Although the government has taken a lot of steps to control air pollution, still these external emissions will impact negatively," he added.

In a bid to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from worsening owing to poor air quality, the National Green Tribunal imposed a total ban on the sale and use of firecrackers in the National Capital Region from midnight of November 9 to midnight of November 30.

(With agency inputs)

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