Delhi air pollution reaches severe category on Diwali
The city's Air Quality Index crossed 400 in several areas as smog and festive emissions impacted air quality.
Delhi's air pollution reached the severe category on Diwali, with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recording an AQI of 421 near AIIMS at approximately 7 am on Saturday, according to reports by Urban Acres and Deccan Chronicle.
The city's overall AQI was recorded at 364 at 8 am, placing the capital in the very poor category. However, several monitoring stations recorded severe levels, including 452 near the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, 433 in Punjabi Bagh, and 409 in Narela.
The deterioration follows a day of hazardous air quality, with the city's average AQI recorded at 369 on Saturday compared to 382 on Friday. Experts cited a combination of vehicle emissions, Diwali-related activity, crop-residue burning in neighbouring states, and unfavourable meteorological conditions as factors.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had invoked Stage III measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR two days before Diwali. These measures include a halt to construction activities and strict vehicle restrictions.
Under Stage III, non-essential, highly dust-generating construction activities such as demolition and road construction are suspended. The emergency action plan applies across Delhi and adjoining districts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
The Delhi air quality early-warning system forecast that conditions could remain in the severe category on November 8 and 9, with potential fluctuations between the severe and very poor categories over the following six days.