After people set off firecrackers on Diwali, Delhi awoke to ‘hazardous’ air quality.

New Delhi: Following the Diwali festival, the air quality in Delhi’s Janpath reached the ‘hazardous’ category on Friday (November 5) morning. Pollution Meter (PM) 2.5 concentrations were 655.07 in Janpath this morning.

As a thick layer of smog shrouds Delhi’s skies, several residents have complained of itchy throats and watery eyes.

Despite the Delhi government’s ban on firecrackers, several people were seen bursting crackers on the streets on Diwali, contributing to the deterioration of air quality, which was exacerbated by increased contributions from farm fires.

Images of people bursting firecrackers have surfaced from various locations in Delhi, including the Barapullah flyover, Adhchini, and Greater Kailash.

The air quality would not improve until Sunday evening, according to the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) (November 7). However, the improvement would only be in the ‘Very Poor’ category.

“Delhi’s overall air quality has slipped into the very poor category…

It will continue to fall and may fall into the “very poor” to “severe” category by tonight “SAFAR was notified.

“If even half of last year’s firecrackers are burned, PM2.5 will enter the’severe’ category by midnight and shoot up rapidly by today early morning, with AQI crossing 500+,” it added.

The extremely calm wind conditions in Delhi, combined with a 25% stubble share (fire count 2293), are two major pollutants today.

According to the SAFAR model, the stubble share will reach 35% today (November 5) and 40% on November 6 and November 7.

“Relief is expected only from the evening of November 7,” it said, adding that “AQI will fluctuate within the Very Poor range.”

 

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