Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
air quality In Delhi fell into the “dangerous” range on Tuesday morning smoke From Diwali fireworks Air quality readings at several monitoring stations reached above 1,000, affecting the Indian capital.
Hindu Diwali festival was celebrated across the country India By lighting a lamp on Monday, in which a world record Demonstration in the northern city of AyodhyaAnd huge fireworks.
Fine particulate matter from fireworks combined with seasonal pollution and stagnant weather conditions lead to deterioration of air quality in most parts of the country.
According to IQAir, real-time readings at Mandir Marg and Lodhi Road in central Delhi crossed 1,300, while several other areas recorded values over 900. The toxic haze also reduced visibility around major roads and historical monuments.
The Central Pollution Control Board’s monitoring system, which caps the national index at 500, has classified most of the city in the “severe” air category, with stations like Anand Vihar, Wazirpur and Jahangirpuri reporting an AQI of over 400.
Anything above 400 on India’s air quality index falls into the “severe” or “hazardous” category, a level at which the air is considered unhealthy for everyone, not just people with respiratory or heart problems.
Several stations in Delhi also breached that scale on Tuesday, with levels of fine particulate matter PM2.5 measured between 500 and 1,800 micrograms per cubic metre, up to 120 times the WHO’s daily safe limit of 15 micrograms per cubic metre.
Air quality data showed that 36 of the capital’s 38 monitoring stations were in the “red zone”, meaning people could experience cough, throat irritation and chest tightness within hours of exposure.
The spike came after India Supreme Court “Limited” use of “green” fireworks was allowed for two days over the Diwali weekend, despite warnings from medical groups about increased winter smog. The move comes after years of ineffective ban on fireworks during Diwali.
The court said its decision sought to balance industry interests and public health, while limiting the use of fireworks to two hours on the eve and day of the festival. However, people had started lighting fireworks several days in advance and this continued throughout the night of Diwali.
The “green” fireworks, developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, were designed to emit 30-40 percent less particulate matter and sulfur dioxide as well as limit noise to less than 120 decibels.
Only fireworks with certification from a research institute were officially allowed to be sold. But critics remained skeptical.
A 2022 joint study by Delhi Technological University and IIT Roorkee found that even certified green fireworks release large amounts of particles smaller than 100 nanometers, which are capable of penetrating deep into the lungs.
In the weeks leading up to the festival, Delhi’s poor air quality had prompted the government to take steps to curb pollution levels, including restrictions on construction activity and the use of diesel generators.
Delhi and the wider metropolitan area, home to more than 30 million people, is regularly among the world’s most polluted cities, especially during the winter months when Diwali fireworks coincide with cold weather and smoke from burning crop residue by farmers in nearby states.
According to the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, air pollution is cutting the life expectancy of city residents by about 12 years compared to WHO guidelines.