Delhi’s air near ‘severe’ the morning after Deepavali; AQI 437 at DTU and Burari

A thick grey haze covered Delhi on the morning of 9 November, the day after Deepavali, and the city’s average air quality index (AQI) reached 370, just short of the “severe” category, The Hindu reported.

The worst readings were at the Delhi Technological University (DTU) and Burari Crossing monitoring stations, at 437 each. Air was “severe” in several areas, including Bawana, Burari, Jahangirpuri, Sonia Vihar, Punjabi Bagh, Okhla and Rohini. Four stations were in the “poor” category and the rest “very poor”.

Deepavali night

Crackers were burst across the capital on Deepavali night in spite of the restrictions on them. At 10 p.m., 20 of the 59 stations reporting data were in the “severe” range. Sonia Vihar was the worst, at 463, followed by Jahangirpuri at 450. The city’s average for 8 November was 376.

The Central Pollution Control Board rates an AQI of 301 to 400 as “very poor” and 401 to 500 as “severe”.

What’s next

The Air Quality Early Warning System expects Delhi’s air to turn “severe” during the day and to stay there for the next few days. It blamed still air, vehicle exhaust and crop-residue burning in neighbouring States. Winds below 10 km/h do little to clear pollution.

The Supreme Court has asked Delhi and three neighbouring States for an action plan on vehicle pollution, Hindustan Times reported. The court will hear that issue on 23 November, and solid waste, crop-residue burning and firecrackers on 25 November.

Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan, which bars older petrol and diesel cars and halts non-essential construction, has been in force across Delhi-NCR since 6 November. People with asthma, heart or lung disease, children and older people should stay indoors as much as they can and wear an N95 mask outside.