Delhi-NCR is suffocating a day after Diwali as pollution levels have risen to dangerous levels. Delhiites woke up to a thick layer of smog covering the National Capital on Tuesday, October 21.
With several areas in Delhi-NCR suffering from deteriorating air quality, the city reported an AQI of 359, which falls in the very poor category, according to Central Pollution Control Board data at 10:40 am. With more than 33 million people at risk of respiratory infections due to high pollution levels, it’s time to turn to the worst air quality areas in Delhi-NCR as the GRAP 2 rules come into effect.
An AQI between 301 and 400 is considered very poor and values above 400 are considered severe, according to the CPCB parameters on the 500 AQI scale. While most of Delhi has been reeling under high pollution levels, some places have recorded “poor” air quality that is much better than toxic levels in certain areas that pose a health risk. Sri Aurobindo Marg at 257 AQI and Sirifort at 275 AQI were among the best places in Delhi-NCR with the lowest AQI.
The extremely high pollution levels come almost a week after the Supreme Court’s historic decision that lifted a blanket ban on the manufacture, sale and burning of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. It allowed the use of only green crackers, which emit 30 percent less pollution than regular crackers, during specified hours of the day for Diwali festivities. However, burning crackers on Diwali has had consequences for those already suffering from respiratory diseases and asthmatics.
