Delhi air quality enters very poor category on Diwali
The Air Quality Early Warning System warns that pollution levels in Delhi-NCR may reach the severe category from November 9.
Air quality in Delhi and surrounding areas remained in the 'very poor' category on Sunday night as residents celebrated Diwali. According to reports from India TV and the Times of India, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 371 in Delhi at 10.24 pm.
The pollution levels were driven largely by PM2.5, with emissions from firecrackers adding to the particulate matter. The Decision Support System (DSS) for Delhi indicated that the transport sector was the primary source of pollution on Sunday, contributing 19 per cent of the total load. Stubble burning accounted for 3.5 per cent of the pollution.
Data from monitoring stations showed varying levels of deterioration. While 33 stations reported 'very poor' air, several others recorded 'severe' levels, including Sonia Vihar with an AQI of 463 and Jahangirpuri, which recorded 460 or 450 according to different reports. In Noida, the AQI was 315, while Ghaziabad recorded 357.
The Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) has cautioned that air quality could slip into the 'severe' category from November 9 for several days. This deterioration is expected due to firecrackers, vehicle exhaust, and stubble burning in neighbouring states, alongside unfavourable weather conditions.
The EWS noted that a ventilation index below 6,000 square metres per second and wind speeds under 10 kilometres per hour hinder the dispersal of pollutants. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) has forecast that the AQI could rise past 400 into the 'severe' category by 4 am on Monday.