Delhi air quality reaches severe levels on Diwali morning
The city's average Air Quality Index was recorded at 383 as several monitoring stations reported severe pollution levels.
Delhi recorded an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 383 at 8 am on Sunday, placing the city in the 'very poor' category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Indian Express and The Pioneer reported that 24 monitoring stations recorded AQI levels above 400, indicating 'severe' air pollution.
Jahangirpuri recorded the highest AQI at 450, followed by RK Puram at 448 and Punjabi Bagh at 446. Other areas including Bawana and IIT Delhi also recorded readings above 400. In adjoining cities, Noida recorded an AQI of 319 and Gurugram recorded 322, according to Scroll.
The deterioration comes as the city celebrates Diwali. The Air Quality Early Warning System has forecast that Delhi's air quality is likely to remain in the 'severe' category on November 8 and 9, with levels expected to fluctuate between 'very poor' and 'severe'.
The Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas has imposed stage three emergency measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). These measures include curbs on certain polluting vehicles and restrictions on non-essential construction and demolition activities.
Data gaps were also reported at several monitoring stations. An analysis by The Indian Express revealed that at least 11 stations were affected on Friday, with some stations like NSIT Dwarka and Nangloi experiencing significant hourly data outages.