Delhi becomes world's most polluted city as firecracker ban goes up in smoke

Relentless burning of firecrackers by people on Diwali led to the worsening of air quality levels, with the AQI reaching close to 'severe' category at many places in Delhi.

In Short

• Firecrackers burst in Delhi on Diwali despite blanket ban
• Air quality index in several parts of city at over 360
• NCR cities had slightly better air quality, recorded in 'very poor' category

Delhi earned the tag of the world's most polluted city on Friday after firecrackers were burst on the occasion of Diwali on Thursday despite a blanket ban in the national capital. At 6 am on Friday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 359, which falls in 'very poor' category, according to CPCB.

Several areas, including Lajpat Nagar, Kalkaji, Chhatarpur, Jaunapur, East of Kailash, Saket, Rohini, Dwarka, Punjabi Bagh, Vikaspuri, Dilshad Garden, Burari and many other neighbourhoods of east and west Delhi saw firecrackers being burst.

At 6 am, areas including Burari Crossing (394), Jahangirpuri (387), RK Puram (395), Rohini (385), Ashok Vihar (384), Dwarka Sector 8 (375), IGI Airport (375), Mandir Marg (369), Punjabi Bagh (391), Anand Vihar (395), Siri Fort (373) and Sonia Vihar (392) saw the air quality at the higher end of the 'very poor' category and were at risk of reaching the 'severe' category, CPCB data showed.

NCR areas Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurugram recorded AQI levels at 293, 316 and 348, respectively, with the former in the 'poor' category while the latter two in the 'very poor' category.

The pollution levels at many of the pollution measuring stations of Delhi NCR touched the peak around midnight. While the PM2.5 and PM10 levels dipped significantly after 1 am, they still remain critical. The deterioration started after 5 pm on Thursday, around the time the bursting of firecrackers was reported in the national capital.

Due to the defiance of the cracker ban, PM2.5 levels in several areas soared as high as 900 micrograms per cubic meter - over 15 times the acceptable limit.

At 8 pm, monitoring stations like RK Puram and Jahangirpuri recorded these alarming levels. By 10 pm, other areas, including Nehru Nagar, Patparganj, Ashok Vihar, and Okhla, showed PM2.5 levels between 850–900 micrograms per cubic meter, far exceeding the safety threshold of 60 micrograms per cubic meter.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', 401 and 450 'severe' and above 450 'severe plus'.

On October 14, the Delhi government imposed a ban on the production, storage, sale, and use of firecrackers across the city, effective until January 1, 2025.

On Diwali morning, Delhiites woke up to a thick layer of smog blanketing the national capital as the air quality was in the 'very poor' category with a recorded AQI of 328 at 4 pm. This was the worst air quality recorded in Diwali in the past three years.

Several pollution measuring stations reported PM2.5 levels up to 900 micrograms per cubic metre.

At 8 pm, stations such as RK Puram and Jahangirpuri recorded massive pollution levels. However, the data transmission abruptly halted after 9 pm. Meanwhile, Nehru Nagar, Patparganj, Ashok Vihar, and Okhla continued to display PM2.5 concentrations between 850-900 micrograms per cubic metre at 10 pm, alarmingly above the stipulated safety threshold of 60 micrograms per cubic metre.

In other parts of the city, Wazirpur, Pusa, and Vivek Vihar registered pollution levels of 603, 601, and 677 micrograms per cubic metre, respectively, marking more than 11 times the standard limit. Similarly, Dwarka and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium recorded almost 500 micrograms per cubic metre, exceeding the safe level by more than eight times.

PM2.5 is a fine particulate matter capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory system and triggering health problems, whereas PM10 is a particulate matter that is 10 micrometres or less in diameter. These tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the air can be inhaled into the lungs.

Last year, Delhiites enjoyed a clearer sky and abundant sunshine on Diwali, with an AQI of 218, compared to 312 in 2022, 382 in 2021, 414 in 2020, 337 in 2019, 281 in 2018, 319 in 2017 and 431 in 2016, according to the CPCB.

In Delhi's neighbouring areas, such as Faridabad, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Noida, the air quality was slightly better, with all of them falling in the 'poor' category on Thursday.

On Diwali eve, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced that 377 teams were formed to enforce the ban on firecrackers across the national capital. He said authorities were in touch with resident welfare associations, market associations and social organisations to spread awareness.

Police teams were also formed to ensure that firecrackers were not burst.

"Legal action will be taken against those found bursting crackers. They may also be booked under the relevant sections of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) for violating government orders," an officer had said.

Unfavourable meteorological conditions, combined with vehicular emissions, paddy-straw burning, firecrackers and other local pollution sources, contribute to hazardous air quality levels in Delhi-NCR during winters.

(with inputs from Kumar Kunal)