From Diwali to doomsday: Delhi air quality returns to 'severe' status

Delhi recorded an AQI of 312 on Diwali last year, 382 in 2021, 414 in 2020, 337 in 2019, 281 in 2018, 319 in 2017 and 431 in 2016, according to CPCB data.

Delhiites are back in the severe zone when it comes to their air they are breathing in, indicates the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data for November 15. A layer of haze swathed the city in the early hours of the day, with the air quality index in several areas shooting past 400.

The AQI in Anand Vihar was recorded at 430, RK Puram at 417, Punjabi Bagh at 423, and Jahangirpuri at 428, according to CPCB as of 6am on November 15.

On November 12, the Capital breathed in the best air on a Diwali day in the last eight years and the 24-hour average AQI came in at 218 around 4pm. But the evening spelt the doom as people dared alerts and went into an crazy rush for firecrackers, leading to a sharp spike in pollution level amid low temperature.

Also Read | Delhi AQI: Delhi NCR should not depend on rain alone to tackle pollution

An 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, 401 and 450 severe, and above 450 severe plus.

"It's evident that the spike in pollution levels post Diwali is due to two factors — firecracker bursting and farm fires — with fireworks being the predominant reason in this case," an official of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body responsible for formulation of strategies to reduce pollution in Delhi-NCR, was quoted as saying by PTI.

Delhi recorded an AQI of 312 on Diwali last year, 382 in 2021, 414 in 2020, 337 in 2019, 281 in 2018, 319 in 2017 and 431 in 2016, according to CPCB data. The national capital's AQI on the day after Diwali stood at 360 in 2015, 445 in 2016, 403 in 2017, 390 in 2018, 368 in 2019, 435 in 2020, 462 in 2021 and 303 in 2022.