Delhi air quality enters severe category after Diwali celebrations
Thick smog reduced visibility across the capital as the air quality index crossed 400 in several areas on Monday.
Delhi experienced a thick blanket of smog on Monday, a day after Diwali, with air quality slipping into the 'severe' category in multiple parts of the city. According to reports from Moneycontrol, The Indian Express and Deccan Herald, the deteriorating conditions reduced visibility in several areas, including Inderlok.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an AQI of 406 at ITO at approximately 4:20 am, categorising it as 'severe'. Other areas such as Delhi Technological University and Burari Crossing recorded an AQI of 437 each, while Jahangirpuri reached 433 and Chandni Chowk recorded 418.
The city's average AQI was 370 on Monday, following a Sunday average of 376. On Diwali eve, the average AQI was 369. While the CPCB's Sameer app showed a 24-hour average of 370, some private monitoring sites reported levels nearing 1,000.
The worsening air quality has led to political friction. Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra alleged that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal is running a campaign from his residence to target Sanatan Dharma and the Diwali festival by using pollution as a cover. Mishra claimed that paid celebrities and leaders would be used to push this narrative.
Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is currently in force across the Delhi-NCR region. While the Supreme Court recently allowed the use of certified green crackers during specific hours on November 7 and 8, a complete ban on firecrackers is set to begin on November 9.