Delhi air quality remains very poor after Diwali celebrations
The Air Quality Index stood at 368 on Monday morning as smog reduced visibility across the capital.
Delhi's air quality remained in the very poor category on Monday morning, November 9, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 368 at 7 am, according to Business Today. The reading was 15 points lower than the same time on Sunday.
On Diwali night, air quality at 20 monitoring stations had reached the severe category, while the city's overall AQI was 371 at 10 pm on Sunday. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an AQI of 421 near AIIMS at approximately 7 am, according to Urban Acres.
Despite restrictions on firecrackers, residents in areas such as Pitampura, Burari, Mayur Vihar and Lutyens' Delhi reported widespread use of crackers on Sunday evening. This led to thick smoke and reduced visibility in several neighbourhoods.
Sonia Vihar recorded the highest AQI at 463, while Jahangirpuri reached 450. The CPCB monitoring station at ITO recorded an AQI of 406 at 4:20 am, according to the Deccan Chronicle.
The Air Quality Early Warning System has forecast that Delhi's AQI could enter the severe category from November 9 and stay there for several days. Experts have attributed the expected decline to factors including vehicle emissions, Diwali activities, stubble burning in nearby states and unfavourable weather.
Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra alleged that a campaign was being orchestrated at Arvind Kejriwal's residence to target Diwali and Sanatan Dharma under the guise of pollution, according to the Deccan Chronicle.