Delhi air quality LIVE updates: Pollution levels in capital city soars post Diwali, AQI in ‘poor’ category

livemint.com:

Delhi air quality LIVE updates: Delhi, NCR region Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 266 on November 13, post Diwali, at 6 am according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The city was engulfed in a thick layer of smog on the night of Diwali and the toxic haze continued to suspend on the next day following the unprecedented bursting of firecrackers, despite the Supreme Court order.The national capital had been experiencing ‘severe’ air quality for the past 2 weeks which improved following light showers on November 10. The air quality yesterday morning fared best in 8 years on the day of Diwali.

However, the respite from toxic haze was short-lived. Delhi's pollution levels soared on Diwali night even though a ban on the production, sale, storage and bursting of crackers had been in place. Delhi government had launched the 'Diya Jalao, Patakhe Nahi' campaign in the city amid concerns of rising pollution again after the Diwali festival which was ineffective in curtailing pollution.

Delhi government has closed schools until November 18 in view of rising pollution levels. The Supreme Court ordered the state governments on November 7 to stop stubble burning and make the smog tower installed in Delhi functional. Even, GRAP Stage IV has been invoked in the city as a measure to curb pollution.The worsening of air quality in the city can be attributed to stubble burning incidents in neighbouring states especially in Punjab and vehicular emissions that lead to deterioration of air quality over the Indo-Gangetic plain.