Delhi’s Pollution Crisis: Levels 65 Times Higher Than WHO Guidelines Post-Diwali

Delhi’s Pollution Crisis: Delhi Air Quality Index continues to deteriorate. As on Sunday, the figures have crossed the 400 mark, two days after the Diwali festival. And by 10:30 a.m. today, it lags in the alarming category 'hazardous,' affecting the health of everyone who lives in the metropolis and its nearby belts.

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A thick cover of smog engulfed the national capital, while the AQI was observed above 300 in all areas, taking Delhi NCR's PM2.5 levels beyond 50 times the permissible limit laid down by WHO, as per the AQICN data.

AQI, which is a report of the quality of air in a region, was considered 'poor' at 200-300. It is very poor from 301 to 400. It is severe if more than 401 and goes up to 450 or more, then it would be "severe-plus". It may cause damaging health concerns to residents.

AQI levels in various Delhi areas on Sunday as of 9 am:

• Anand Vihar - 532 (hazardous)
• Alipur - 318 (hazardous)
• Punjabi Bagh - 381 (hazardous)
• Narela - 295 (very poor)
• RK Puram 329 - (hazardous)
• Bawana - 382 ((hazardous)

The Delhi AQI rose up by over 100 points within 12 hours

AQI rose to 447 within 12 hours in Delhi, while 11 days back it was merely 327. On Saturday, most areas of the national capital reported an air quality index of 327 at 9 pm, while at 8:30 am on Saturday it was recorded above 500 in Anand Vihar and other places.

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Alipur, Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Aaya Nagar, Bawana, Burari, Mathura Road, IGI Airport, Dwarka, Jahangirpuri, Mundka, Narela, Patparganj, Rohini, Shadipur, Sonia Vihar, Wazirpur, Mandir Marg, Nehru Nagar, Najafgarh and other weather monitoring stations have "very poor" air quality as published by the real-time hourly updates of National AQI from the CPCB using the sameer app.

Delhi Air Pollution and Diwali

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), on Friday, a day after Diwali, air quality in the city turned into the 'very poor' category. Most areas of the capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) over 350 and were raising health concerns in the minds of the people.

A recent 'LocalCircles' conducted survey showed that most Delhites were unable to breathe as smoke from fire crackers further deteriorated the condition of air pollution in national capital.

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