Delhi's air quality plummets after Diwali

After people in Delhi burst firecrackers on Deepavali night, openly flouting an existing ban, air pollution in Delhi on Friday (November 1, 2024) morning was about 14 times the limit prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The overall level of PM2.5 (a chief pollutant) in Delhi was 209.3 micrograms per cubic meter at 8 a.m. on Friday, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. The WHO’s permissible limit is 15 micrograms per cubic meter for a 24-hour period.

The



overall air quality of Delhi on Friday morning deteriorated to the upper end of the ‘very poor’ category.

Most areas in the capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) over 350, raising health concerns for residents. At around 7:00 a.m., Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 395, Aya Nagar stood at 352, Jahangirpuri at 390, and Dwarka reached 376.

All these areas reported ‘very poor’ air quality levels, posing significant health risks