Delhi’s air quality took a turn for the worse on Tuesday morning, the day after Diwali celebrations, with many areas registering an Air Quality Index (AQI) in the ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’ categories, often referred to as the ‘red zone’. This follows a week where the air quality had already been categorized as ‘poor’. The increase in pollution levels is suspected to be linked to the widespread use of fireworks during Diwali, despite Supreme Court regulations allowing only green crackers within specific timeframes. In response to the worsening air quality, authorities are expected to intensify anti-pollution measures across the city.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported several stations showing alarmingly high pollution levels. By 10 PM on Monday, areas like Dwarka (AQI 417), Ashok Vihar (AQI 404), Wazirpur (AQI 423), and Anand Vihar (AQI 404) were identified as the most affected, indicating severe pollution conditions.
The CPCB classifies AQI on a scale where 0-50 is ‘good’, 51-100 is ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 is ‘moderate’, 201-300 is ‘poor’, 301-400 is ‘very poor’, and 401-500 is ‘severe’. The current readings in many parts of Delhi clearly fall into the higher, more hazardous categories.