After Diwali, Delhi air quality turns hazardous, severe in NCR

Air quality of Delhi was recorded as hazardous and severe at several places on Thursday, November 8, despite a controlled Diwali after the Supreme Court ordered that only green firecrackers could be burst for two hours slot in the Delhi and the National Capital Region.

Air Quality Index (AQI) in Anand Vihar was 999, the area around the US embassy in Chanakyapuri 459 and that around the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium was 999, all of which falls under the hazardous category, according to news agency ANI.

It said particulate matter — PM2.5 and PM10 — were at 500 or severe level in Lodhi Road area citing data from AQI.

Earlier, experts had warned of surge in the levels of polltuon after Diwali even if partially toxic crackers are burst compared to last year.

Delhi, recorded its worst air quality of the season on Monday, when the pollution levels were eight times the permissible limit as a thick haze engulfed the city.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) on Tuesday was recorded at 320, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category, according to data by the CPCB. It was a slight improvement over Monday’s AQI of 434 or ‘severe’ category.

Doctors have said the impact of air pollution on public health can be compared to smoking 15-20 cigarettes a day.