'Green' Diwali goes up in smoke :::: Thanks to crackers and festivity, Delhi's air quality takes a sharp hit :::: Several air quality monitoring stations in red zone ::::: Noida and Gurgaon were no better off

Prolonged exposure to "very poor" air can cause respiratory illness.

As residents across the national capital celebrated Diwali with fireworks on Monday night, Delhi's air quality took a sharp hit, with the majority of monitoring stations entering the 'red zone'.

Although the Supreme Court had permitted the use of green firecrackers between 8 pm and 10 pm on the festival day, celebrations continued well beyond the allotted hours.

Several monitoring stations were in the red zone. 

Delhi Blanketed In Haze 

The Supreme Court had allowed the sale and use of green crackers on Diwali this year to strike a balance between interests of the industry and public health.

Relentless bursting of firecrackers, flouting the Supreme Court-mandated time slots, blanketed Delhi in toxic haze on Tuesday a day after Diwali, with the air quality index (AQI) worsening to the 'severe' category. According to data, the average air quality index (AQI) stood at 451 at 7 am – 1.8x above the national average – as pollution levels worsened amid festive celebrations.  

On Diwali night, the AQI plunged into the "very poor" category. The satellite cities of Noida and Gurgaon were no better off, with the AQI at 407 and 402 respectively on Tuesday morning.

Last year, the overall air quality of Delhi after Diwali was recorded in the 'very poor' category. The AQI stood at 359.  The AQI this morning is similar to what it was recorded on Diwali evening. Delhi's 24-hour average AQI, which is reported at 4 pm every day, remained in the 'very poor' category at 345 on Monday, based on the data from 38 out of 39 monitory stations, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).'

Prolonged exposure to "very poor" air can cause respiratory illness, as per the CPCB.  

Majority of the 38 monitoring stations in the city reported AQI in 'very poor' category. For example, PM 2.5 recorded at 358 and PM 10 at 340 at Anand Vihar station. However, Wazirpur station recorded AQI at 408, falling under the severe category, with major pollutant being PM 2.5.

Visuals from near Dilli Haat, INA showed people driving with headlight on as smog distorted the view. The AQI around RK Puram was recorded at 368.

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