Delhi’s air struggle begins ahead of Diwali firecrackers, records ‘very poor’ air quality with 376 AQI
Of the 59 monitoring stations that recorded data on Sunday, air quality was in the 'severe' category at 12 and in the 'very poor' category at 22.
Delhi's air quality deteriorated to "very poor" levels on Sunday, with an average AQI of 376, as a thick layer of smog enveloped the city and visibility was reduced. The air quality was forecast to worsen on Monday, following Diwali celebrations, vehicular emissions, and the peak of stubble-burning season. Out of 59 monitoring stations, 12 recorded severe air quality, 22 in the very poor category, with the highest reading of 463 in Jahangirpuri.
The city's average AQI rose from 369 on Saturday to 376 on Sunday, nearly reaching the severe threshold of 400. Several monitoring stations had already surpassed this mark, signaling worsening air quality across the capital. The Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) predicts the air quality will remain in the severe category from November 9 for a few days.
Experts attribute the deterioration to unfavorable meteorological conditions, Diwali-related celebrations, vehicular emissions, and peak stubble burning in neighboring states. Unfavorable meteorological conditions further exacerbate the situation, with a ventilation index below 6,000 square meters per second and an average wind speed of less than 10 kilometers per hour.
PM2.5 was the main pollutant in Delhi, with firecracker emissions contributing to particulate matter levels. The transport sector is expected to be the largest contributor to pollution on Sunday, accounting for 19%, while stubble burning will contribute 3.5%, potentially remaining around 2.99% on Monday.
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