The air quality in Delhi deteriorated further two days after Diwali on Tuesday morning with the Air Quality Index (AQI) plunging to the ‘severe’ category in many areas. The AQI levels in the national capital remained in the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ category due to the continuing effect of the bursting of firecrackers on Diwali.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR)-India data, the overall AQI in Delhi reached 373 around 9 am on Tuesday, erasing the brief respite from earlier rain.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed that RK Puram witnessed a severe AQI of 422 at 5 am, with PM 2.5 being the predominant pollutant. Dwarka and Punjabi Bagh also experienced deteriorating air quality, with AQI at 406 and 410, respectively. Areas like ITO (AQI- 430) and Jahangirpuri (AQI- 428) also reported alarming pollution levels.

Delhi's air quality plunged into the ‘severe’ category with alarming AQI levels at various locations, including IGI Airport (426), Mundka (418), Dwarka Sector 8 (404), New Moti Bagh (422), and Rohini (417) at 6 am on Tuesday.

Delhi’s neighbouring city, Noida, also reported alarming air quality with AQI reaching the ‘severe’ category. The AQI stood at 406 in Sector-125 at 5 am, as per CPCB data. In Noida Sector-62, the AQI stood at 377 (very poor).

Meanwhile, residents in Haryana’s Gurugram witnessed hazardous air quality with the AQI soaring to 430 in Sector 51 on Tuesday morning.

Despite a ban on firecrackers during Diwali, the relentless bursting of fireworks coupled with lax enforcement led to a dramatic increase in PM 2.5 concentration. Anand Vihar recorded 1,985 micrograms per cubic meter on Sunday midnight, 33 times more than the national safe standard and 132 times over the WHO-recommended limit.

Internationally, according to IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitoring company, Delhi earned the distinction of being the most polluted city on Monday. Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan followed closely, while Mumbai and Kolkata ranked fifth and sixth among the world’s most polluted cities.

In response to the escalating pollution crisis, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has taken a stringent step by doubling parking charges in its managed sites. This move aims to discourage private vehicle usage in adherence to the Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP) Stage IV guidelines implemented due to the severe pollution situation in the capital.

(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)