Delhi’s AQI deteriorates to very poor after Diwali as firecracker ban is defied

New Delhi’s air quality plunged to dangerous levels on Friday morning as residents flouted a citywide ban on firecrackers during Diwali celebrations, resulting in an AQI (Air Quality Index) spike to 359, categorized as “very poor.”

The AQI index rose 359 from the 328 AQI recorded on Diwali morning.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the dense smoke and noise pollution lingered as people celebrated till late into the night.

At multiple monitoring stations, including Anand Vihar and RK Puram, AQI readings approached hazardous levels, with figures reaching 395 and 394 respectively. Other areas, such as Burari Crossing, Sonia Vihar, and Punjabi Bagh, also reported AQI levels exceeding 380. According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune, the air quality is expected to remain in the “very poor” category (AQI 300-400) throughout Friday.

In anticipation of the Diwali celebrations, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai had established 377 enforcement teams to uphold the firecracker ban. The Delhi Police also created district-based task forces to prevent firecracker use, yet enforcement efforts were widely ignored across the city.

The situation is further exacerbated by stubble burning in neighboring states Haryana and Punjab, a post-harvest practice that contributes to Delhi’s smog. Authorities had already implemented stage two of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) last week to address the rising pollution levels.

As Delhi’s air quality continues to worsen, residents and environmentalists are calling for stricter enforcement of pollution-control measures to mitigate health risks and reduce respiratory ailments.

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