An increase in stubble burning, bursting of firecrackers and unfavourable meteorological conditions- all contributed towards accumulation of pollutants in the air.
However the 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 312 was still better than some of the previous years, making it the “second least polluted” Diwali in seven years.
Delhi had recorded an AQI of 382 on Diwali last year, 414 in 2020; 337 in 2019; 319 in 2017; and 431 in 2016, according to the Central Pollution Control Board data.
2018 was the least toxic in recent years, with AQI being limited to 281.
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”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.
The PM2.5 levels at 25 monitoring stations in Delhi were five to six times the national standard of 60 microgram per cubic metre at 4pm.
PM2.5 are fine particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter and can travel deep into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs and entering the bloodstream.
People in many parts of the city, including in south and northwest Delhi, started bursting crackers by dusk. High-intensity firecrackers could be heard going off on the ground or mid-air.
As the night progressed the intensity of firecrackers increased breaching permissible decibel limits.
In south Delhi’s East of Kailash, and neighbouring places like Nehru Place and Moolchand, firecrackers going off mid-air could be heard in the evening. Some residents burst crackers in their neighbourhood like every year.
In Burari too, many residents burst firecrackers despite widespread dissemination of information about the ban. In Laxmi Nagar, Mayur Vihar and Shahdara in east Delhi, the situation was similar. While the intensity in the late evening was lower compared to last year, it rose after 9 pm.
Anand Vihar and North Campus stations remained among the top polluted areas, while Najafgarh and Aurobindo Marg were among the lesser polluted, continuing with the trend of the last few years.
The air quality in Ghaziabad (301), Noida (303), Greater Noida (270), Gurugram (325) and Faridabad (256) was reported in the ‘poor to very poor’ category on Monday.
(With agency inputs)
For all the latest world News Click Here
