Delhi: The city’s air quality has significantly worsened, nearing the ‘severe’ category as pollution levels spiked following Diwali celebrations. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that air quality around Lodhi Road stands at 227, classified as ‘Poor.’ The air quality around the Akshardham Temple is even more concerning, recorded as ‘Very Poor.’
Despite a ban on firecrackers, bursts of celebration were heard across Delhi-NCR, which contributed to the pollution spike. Environmentalist Vimalendu Jha noted, “Although the ban was in place, firecrackers were still used. Fortunately, favorable winds prevented air quality from reaching ‘severe’ levels. However, weather patterns in the upcoming days may lead to further deterioration.”
The temperature on Friday reached a high of 33.6 degrees Celsius—three degrees above the normal—while the minimum was recorded at 18.4 degrees, which is 2.3 degrees above the average. Out of 40 air quality monitoring stations, 32 stations reported ‘Very Poor’ levels. According to the Sameer app, which provides real-time AQI updates, locations such as Alipur (335), Anand Vihar (385), and Ashok Vihar (365) displayed alarming pollution levels.
The air quality index (AQI) categorizes air quality as follows: 0-50 (‘Good’), 51-100 (‘Satisfactory’), 101-200 (‘Moderate’), 201-300 (‘Poor’), 301-400 (‘Very Poor’), 401-450 (‘Severe’), and above 450 (‘Severe Plus’). With pollution expected to rise due to ongoing weather changes, residents are advised to take precautions, especially those sensitive to air pollution.
