Diwali firecrackers smother Delhi in smog as air quality plummets: AQI soars above 900

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

stubble burning, and local pollution to push the Air Quality Index (AQI) into the “very poor” category. At 10 p.m., the overall AQI for Delhi stood at 330, and certain key areas even recorded “severe” pollution levels.

Key Areas and Severe AQI Readings

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) reported extreme AQI levels across various parts of Delhi, with Anand Vihar registering PM2.5 concentrations high enough to categorize it as «severe,» raising health concerns for those breathing the air. Neighborhoods such as Wazirpur, Pusa, and Vivek Vihar recorded AQI levels of 603, 601, and 677, respectively. Many other areas, including Burari Crossing, Jahangirpuri, and RK Puram, saw AQI readings exceeding 370, far surpassing safe limits.

Return to Hazardous Levels: A Pattern of Diwali Pollution

Unlike last year’s Diwali, which had relatively favorable meteorological conditions, this year saw AQI spike to 330, a stark rise from 218 reported in 2022. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai noted that this trend is concerning: “The city’s air quality took a severe hit due to the large-scale defiance of the firecracker ban.” Delhi’s AQI was recorded at 312 in 2022, 382 in 2021, and 414 in 2020, illustrating the repetitive spike in pollution levels each Diwali, despite government regulations.

Enforced Ban and Widespread Non-compliance

Delhi’s government implemented a comprehensive firecracker ban, which prohibited their manufacture, sale, and use. To enforce this, 377 teams, led by resident welfare associations, market