Post-Diwali Blues: Delhi’s Air Quality Takes a Hit, Anand Vihar AQI Dips into ‘Very Poor’ Territory

New Delhi: A dense, harmful haze or ‘smog’ reappeared in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and neighboring areas on Monday morning, post-Diwali fireworks, violating the Supreme Court’s ban and exacerbating the pollution crisis in the National Capital Region. Despite the Supreme Court’s restriction on barium and banned chemicals in firecrackers, the aftermath of Diwali saw a visible decline in air quality, with thick haze severely limiting visibility.

Prior to Diwali, the Supreme Court had clarified that its ban on certain firecracker components extended beyond the National Capital Region (NCR) to the entire country. On Diwali day, Delhi experienced the best air quality in eight years, with an AQI of 202 at 7 am, marked by clear skies and sunshine. However, post-Diwali, the air quality deteriorated significantly.

As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Anand Vihar recorded a very poor AQI of 312 at 8 am, with PM2.5 levels reaching 488. Similarly, RK Puram’s AQI was 305, dominated by PM2.5 at 455. The concentration of PM2.5 exceeded the World Health Organization’s limit by 20 times. The city government responded by closing primary classes and restricting truck entry.

By 5:30 am, Delhi’s air quality levels reached 514, categorized as “hazardous” by Swiss group IQAir, designating Delhi as the most polluted city globally on Monday. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 969 at 5 am, representing “hazardous” air quality. In Noida, the AQI stood at 269 (poor) in sector-62, with PM2.5 touching 500. Gurugram’s AQI was 329 (very poor), and PM2.5 levels nearly reached 500.

Despite the AAP government’s complete ban on firecrackers in Delhi, people were observed bursting crackers, contributing to the worsening pollution levels. The AQI, peaking in the ‘severe’ category, is anticipated to persist, posing breathing difficulties for residents. The government had considered ‘artificial rain’ to combat the foul air, but the sudden rainfall brought temporary relief. The 24-hour average AQI on Saturday was 220, the lowest in eight years for the day before Diwali. Last year’s Diwali recorded an AQI of 312, emphasizing the persistent challenge of curbing post-festive pollution.