Following Diwali, the national capital was covered in a thick blanket of smog with people complaining of watery eyes and itchy throat. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi on Friday morning has reached the 'hazardous' category in many parts of the city.
Despite the ban on firecrackers by the Kejriwal government, many were seen bursting crackers on streets and societies contributing to the degradation of the air quality, amid increased contribution from farm fires. The concentrations of Pollution Meter (PM) 2.5 stood at 655.07 in Janpath today morning.
As per the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the air quality in Delhi will not improve until Sunday evening (November 7). The improvement would, however, just fluctuate in the 'Very Poor' category.
SAFAR stated, "The overall air quality of Delhi is plunged into the upper end of very poor category. It will continue to fall now and may enter at the edge of the 'very poor' to 'severe' category by tonight. If firecrackers are burned even 50 per cent of last year then PM2.5 will enter 'sever' category by midnight and shoot up rapidly by today early morning with AQI even crossing 500+."
Here is the AQI in some parts of Delhi as per 7:30 am:
- Lodhi Road - 379
- Pusa - 376
- IIT Delhi - 395
- Airport - 387
- Mathura Road - 430
AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
