Delhi woke up to a thick blanket of smog and haze on Monday morning, November 9, with its Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at a 'very poor' 368 at 7 am. This severe deterioration in air quality comes after a night of Diwali celebrations that saw widespread bursting of firecrackers across the capital, despite strict regulations.
According to monitoring stations, PM2.5 emerged as the dominant pollutant. The previous night, on Diwali Sunday, the city's overall AQI had climbed to 371 by 10 pm, with 20 monitoring stations registering 'severe' air quality. Several residential areas, including Pitampura, Burari, Mayur Vihar, and parts of Lutyens' Delhi, reported continuous firework displays, leaving residents complaining of reduced visibility, a strong smell of burnt crackers, and difficulty breathing.
Restrictions Largely Ignored
The Supreme Court had permitted the use of 'green' firecrackers only on November 7 and 8, specifically between 6 am and 7 am, and 8 pm and 10 pm. The Delhi government had urged residents to adhere to these guidelines, but reports indicate widespread non-compliance throughout Sunday evening.
Worst-Hit Areas and Contributing Factors
Among the 59 stations reporting on Sunday night, Sonia Vihar recorded the highest AQI at an alarming 463, closely followed by Jahangirpuri at 450. Other severely affected areas included Punjabi Bagh, Burari, Okhla, and Rohini. Delhi's daily average AQI for Sunday settled at 376, a slight increase from 369 on Saturday.
Experts attribute the worsening air quality not only to Diwali firecrackers but also to a combination of unfavorable weather conditions, persistent vehicle emissions, and stubble burning in neighboring states. The Decision Support System estimated transport contributed 19% of Delhi's pollution on Sunday, with stubble burning accounting for approximately 3.5%.
Severe Pollution Warning Ahead
The Air Quality Early Warning System has issued a grim forecast, predicting that Delhi's AQI could enter the 'severe' category from November 9 and persist for the next few days. Low wind speeds and poor ventilation are expected to exacerbate the situation, making it challenging for pollutants to disperse from the city's atmosphere.