Delhi's AQI worsens amid Diwali celebrations, turns into 'severe' category

As expected, Delhi's air quality has turned  into  'severe' category amid the Diwali celebrations on Saturday (November 14, 2020) evening.

According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality monitor, SAFAR, Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 421 at 7 PM.

Moreover, Delhi University was the worst with an AQI of 479 followed by Airport (T3) at 468 and the Mathura Road at 458. 

It was 433 at the Pusa road while  Lodhi Road and IIT Delhi remained in the very poor category with an AQI of 392 and 398 respectively.

Earlier in the day, people in Delhi woke up to a further spike in air pollution as the city continued to remain engulfed in a blanket of smog.

The visibility in the national capital has reduced due to the presence of a high level of smog in the air.

According to experts, the severe category affects the health of people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases. People who are suffering from asthma or other respiratory ailments should prefer working from home.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital is expected to go in the 'severe' category on Diwali.

In a bid to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from worsening owing to poor air quality, the National Green Tribunal imposed a total ban on the sale and use of firecrackers in the National Capital Region from midnight of November 9 to midnight of November 30