India / Delhi Air Pollution News Delhi gasps for air on Diwali night as cracker ban goes up in smoke AQI severe

New Delhi : Amid a sharp rise in smoke due to stubble burning, a government-imposed ban on fireworks on Diwali was defied and the sky in Delhi and its adjoining areas was covered with smoke on Thursday night, raising the city's air quality index. reached the 'severe category'. Delhi's air quality index (AQI), which stood at 382 at 4 pm, has risen to the 'severe category' by 8 pm amid rising pollution in Delhi as the pollutants could not disperse due to low temperature and slow wind speed. . There is a apprehension that today i.e. on Friday morning, Delhi Wave may see even worse effect of firecrackers.

Due to the rampant bursting of crackers, the AQI of the neighboring cities of Delhi was 424 in Faridabad, 442 in Ghaziabad, 423 in Gurugram and 431 in Noida after 9 pm, which falls in the severe category. People from Delhi and its adjoining areas complained of sore throat and watery eyes. Despite a complete ban on firecrackers in the national capital till January 1, 2022, cases of bursting of crackers were reported from 7 pm in Lajpat Nagar in South Delhi, Burari in North Delhi, Paschim Vihar in West Delhi and Shahdara in East Delhi. At the same time, high-intensity firecrackers were burnt in Gurugram and Faridabad. The Haryana government had also banned the sale and use of firecrackers in 14 districts, including areas adjoining Delhi.

Experts forecast that Delhi's air quality index (AQI) may approach the 'severe' category by midnight due to adverse weather conditions, stubble burning, crackers and other local factors. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the visibility at Indira Gandhi International Airport and Safdarjung Airport was low in the morning range of 600-800 meters due to fog in the national capital.

IMD senior scientist RK Jenamani said visibility was affected in the range of 800-900 meters throughout the day due to calm air. The contribution of stubble burning to Delhi's pollution level rose to 25 per cent on Thursday, the highest level so far this season. Gufran Baig, founder project director of SAFAR, an air quality forecasting agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said Delhi's PM 2.5 pollution level could reach the 'severe' category by midnight with 50 percent firecrackers burning compared to last year.

He said by Friday morning a sharp rise in PM 2.5 pollution levels may be recorded and the AQI may cross the 500 level.

It is noteworthy that AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', between 51 and 100 'satisfactory', between 101 and 200 'moderate', between 201 and 300 'poor', between 301 and 400 'very poor'. , and between 401 and 500 are considered 'severe'.

According to 'SAFAR' forecast, the contribution of stubble burning to Delhi's pollution level may increase to 35 per cent on Friday and 40 per cent on Saturday. The north-westerly winds can bring the smoke arising due to stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana towards Delhi. According to SAFAR, some relief is expected only by the evening of November 7. However, the AQI is expected to remain in the 'very poor' category.