The air quality in Delhi has severely deteriorated, crossing the 400 mark on the Air Quality Index (AQI) two days after Diwali. As of 10:30 am on Sunday, Delhi’s AQI has reached the “hazardous” category, posing serious health risks to the residents of Delhi and surrounding areas.
The worsening air quality has led to a thick layer of smog engulfing the city, with AQI levels recorded above 300 in most locations. This puts the PM2.5 levels at over 50 times the safe limit prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO), based on data from AQICN. The AQI categorizes air quality as follows: ‘poor’ between 200-300, ‘very poor’ from 301 to 400, ‘severe’ between 401-450, and above 450 as “severe-plus,” which can lead to severe health issues.
Sharp rise in AQI levels
The AQI in Delhi surged by over 100 points within just 12 hours, rising from 327 to 447. As of 9 pm on Saturday, most areas recorded AQIs around 327, but on Sunday morning, areas like Anand Vihar reported AQIs over 500, marking extremely hazardous levels.
AQI readings in key locations as of 9 am on Sunday:
- Anand Vihar: 532 (hazardous)
- Alipur: 318 (hazardous)
- Punjabi Bagh: 381 (hazardous)
- Narela: 295 (very poor)
- RK Puram: 329 (hazardous)
- Bawana: 382 (hazardous)
Other areas in Delhi, including Alipur, Ashok Vihar, Aaya Nagar, and Mundka, also reported air quality ranging from “very poor” to “hazardous,” according to data from the Sameer app, which provides hourly updates via the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Impact of Diwali celebrations
The day following Diwali saw a rapid drop in air quality due to smoke from firecrackers, with most regions in Delhi recording AQIs above 350. As the winter approaches, the pollution levels are expected to worsen without significant intervention.
