Delhi's air quality 'very poor' on Diwali, thick layer of smog blankets city

As per data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 39 stations in the city stood at 329 (very poor) at 7 am. Anand Vihar recorded the worst AQI at 419 under the "severe" category.

In Short

• Anand Vihar records worst AQI at 419 under 'severe' category
• AQI likely to improve after 11 am with rising temperature, windspeed
• Arvind Kejriwal urges residents to avoid crackers and light diyas

The air quality in Delhi plunged to the "very poor" category on Thursday morning, with a thick layer of smog covering parts of the city as residents in the national capital prepare to celebrate Diwali today.

As per data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 39 stations in the city stood at 329 (very poor) at 7 am.

Anand Vihar recorded the worst AQI at 419 under the "severe" category.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good"; 51 to 100 "satisfactory"; 101 to 200 "moderate"; 201 to 300 "poor"; 301 to 400 "very poor"; and 401 to 500 "severe".

In Aya Nagar, the AQI was 308, while Jahangirpuri and Dwarka recorded 395 and 359, respectively.

Weather department officials have said that the city's AQI levels are likely to improve after 11 am when the temperature will begin to rise and the windspeed is also expected to gain strength.

For Thursday, the India Meteorological Department has forecast a clear sky during the day, with the maximum and minimum temperatures expected to settle around 36 degrees Celsius and 21 degrees, respectively.

Delhi has witnessed worsening air quality in the past few weeks. On Wednesday as well, the city's AQI levels stood in the "very poor" category amid concerns that it was likely to further deteriorate in the wake of the bursting of crackers on Diwali.

In Delhi's neighbouring areas like Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Greater Noida and Noida, the air quality remained "poor". In contrast, Faridabad's air quality was "moderate" with a reading of 181, according to the CPCB.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has reiterated an appeal to the residents of the national capital not to burst crackers on Diwali and light diyas instead, in adherence to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's complete ban on all types of firecrackers until January 1, 2025.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday evening, Kejriwal said that Diwali is the festival of lights not crackers and it was necessary to protect people, where Hindu or Muslim, from pollution.

In 2023, Diwali was celebrated on November 12 and Delhi recorded its best air quality on Diwali day in eight years, with the average AQI at 218.

(With inputs from PTI)