Delhi Chokes on Diwali Pollution as Air Quality Slumps to "Very Poor"

Delhi residents face another Diwali marred by toxic air, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management to invoke stage 2 measures under the Graded Response Action Plan. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) dipped to 296 (poor) at 4 pm, breaching the "very poor" threshold to touch 300 by 6 pm. This is the first time since February 2 that Delhi's AQI turned "very poor." Experts warn that the situation is unlikely to abate till the end of the week, with the Air Quality Early Warning System predicting AQI levels to touch the dirtier side of the "very poor" zone on Diwali.

Key Takeaways:

• Delhi's AQI has dipped to 296 (poor) at 4 pm, breaching the "very poor" threshold to touch 300 by 6 pm.
• This is the first time since February 2 that Delhi's AQI turned "very poor."
• The Air Quality Early Warning System predicts AQI levels to touch the dirtier side of the "very poor" zone on Diwali.
• Twelve preventive measures are undertaken to mitigate air pollution under Grap stage 2, including stricter enforcement on restrictions related to diesel generator sets and restricting interstate buses from entering Delhi.
• Data from the Centre's Decision Support System showed that Sunday's deterioration was largely due to cross-boundary pollution from NCR towns factoring in 67.89% of Delhi's total PM2.5 load.
• The rest, 32.11%, was due to local sources.
• The AQEWS bulletin on Sunday said Delhi's air quality is very likely to be in the "very poor" category on Monday and "severe" from Tuesday till Thursday.
• CPCB classifies air quality on a scale where 0-50 is "good", 51-100 "satisfactory", 101-200 "moderate", 201-300 "poor", 301-400 "very poor", and 401-500 "severe".
• Punjab clocked 67 stubble fires on Sunday, the highest single-day count so far this season for the state.
• Haryana logged seven farm fires on Sunday, the joint-highest single day count so far this season.