Delhi Air Quality Index plunged into the “severe” category on Diwali morning. Compared to this,. last year the national capital reported the best air quality on Diwali day in eight years, with the average AQI at 218.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said the AQI, which was recorded at 274 on Wednesday 8 am slipped to 329 at 7am on Thursday.
Winds have shifted from south-southeast to northwesterly, with the likelihood of bringing the smoke from stubble burning into Delhi, PTI quoted Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather Services as saying.
He warned that bursting firecrackers could also worsen the air quality as the altered wind direction could further trap pollutants.
Anand Vihar witnessed the highest AQI at 419, followed by Wazirpur (396) Jahangirpuri (395) RK Puram (384), Punjabi Bagh (369), Ashok Vihar (368), Mundka (367), Dwarka-Sector 8 (359) Rohini (357) and Burari Crossing (353).
Other areas that saw above-300 levels included Patparganj (350), DU North Campus (334), ITO (306), IGI Airport T3 (303), Narela (303) and Chandni Chowk (301).
The pollution levels are expected to go up on Thursday evening. Noida and Gurugram also recorded ‘poor’ AQI in the morning.
An AQI of 401-500 is severe, 301-400 very poor, 201-300 poor, 101-200 moderate, 51-100 satisfactory and 0-50 good.
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