Delhi AQI hits 384 on Diwali morning as pollution nears severe levels
The capital's average air quality index reached 384 on Sunday, while several monitoring stations recorded severe pollution levels.
Delhi recorded an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 384 at 7 am on Sunday, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. This reading places the city in the very poor category, just below the severe threshold of 401.
The pollution levels remained high across the National Capital Region (NCR). On Saturday, the city's average AQI was 369, following a reading of 382 on Friday. Near AIIMS, the AQI reached 421, which falls into the severe category, while the reading near India Gate was 398.
According to the Financial Express, the highest station-level AQI was 452 near the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. Other areas such as Akshardham Temple recorded an AQI of 344. In the NCR, Noida recorded 319, Faridabad 297, and Ghaziabad 295.
Experts cited in the Financial Express attributed the poor air quality to vehicle emissions, Diwali-related activity, and stubble burning in neighbouring states. The Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) predicts that air quality may stay in the severe category on November 8 and 9, with fluctuations between severe and very poor over the following six days.
The Decision Support System (DSS) for Delhi estimated that transport accounted for 21.4 per cent of the city's pollution on Saturday. Satellite data showed 589 residue-burning incidents across six states on Friday, with Punjab accounting for 357 of those incidents.