Delhi air quality hits very poor category as firecrackers used despite ban
Air pollution levels worsened in the national capital as residents continued bursting firecrackers during Diwali celebrations despite government restrictions.
Air quality in Delhi reached the very poor category on Sunday as residents continued to burst firecrackers in several areas despite existing restrictions, according to reports by Hindustan Times and ThePrint. Fireworks were observed in Pitampura, Burari, Mayur Vihar, and Lutyens' Delhi, with high intensity reported in Burari and non-stop bursting noted in Jangpura.
The district magistrate had permitted the use of CSIR-NEERI-certified green firecrackers only during two specific windows on November 7 and 8: from 6 am to 7 am and 8 pm to 10 pm. The Supreme Court had also prohibited firecracker use within 300 metres of silence zones, including hospitals, educational institutions, and old-age homes.
The city's average Air Quality Index (AQI) for the day was 376, up from 369 on Saturday. At 7 pm, the instantaneous AQI was 371, with Jahangirpuri recording the highest level at 460. Of 59 monitoring stations, 19 were in the severe category at 7 pm.
The Air Quality Early Warning System forecast that pollution levels could slip into the severe category from November 9. Experts attributed the expected deterioration to vehicular emissions, Diwali celebrations, stubble-burning in neighbouring states, and unfavourable weather conditions.
On Monday morning, the average AQI was recorded at 307, according to the Sameer application. In Jahangirpuri, the AQI reached 417, which Scroll reported as the highest level in the capital since February.