Delhi Air Pollution Today: According to the data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board as of 6:00 am, several localities recorded significant AQI levels early Thursday morning.
Delhi Air Pollution: Diwali, the festival of lights, is here but so is the risk of danger to public health. Air quality in Delhi’s Anand Vihar jumped at an alarming level from ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ category on Thursday morning (Oct 31) with an AQI of 419! In fact, many areas in the National Capital continue to remain firmly in the ‘very poor’ category, with AQI readings between 301 and 400.
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Delhi AQI Level: Areas that remain in ‘very poor’ category
According to the data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board as of 6:00 am, several localities recorded significant AQI levels early Thursday morning. Ashok Vihar recorded the Air Quality Index at 368, Bawana at 361, Burari at 353, while Dwarka and Jhangirpuri hit 359. Such deteriorating air quality poses serious health risks, especially for vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions.
To put these numbers into perspective, here’s a breakdown of the AQI categories and their associated health impacts:
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0-50 (Good): Minimal impact
t51-100 (Satisfactory): Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people
101-200 (Moderate): Breathing discomfort for those with lung issues, asthma, and heart diseases
201-300 (Poor): Breathing discomfort for most people on prolonged exposure
301-400 (Very Poor): Respiratory illness on prolonged exposure
401-500 (Severe): Affects healthy individuals and seriously impacts those with existing diseases
Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal urged residents of Delhi on Wednesday to avoid bursting firecrackers this Diwali. He emphasized that the festival should focus on lighting diyas, as Diwali is fundamentally a celebration of lights rather than fireworks.
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During a press conference, Kejriwal highlighted that both the Supreme Court and High Court have advised against bursting firecrackers due to pollution concerns, urging residents to light diyas instead. He stressed that Diwali is a celebration of lights, not fireworks, and pointed out that pollution affects everyone, regardless of religion, particularly harming children. His remarks came as air quality in Delhi has worsened in recent days, leading the government to implement measures to combat rising pollution levels, including restrictions on firecracker use.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai had recently sent a letter to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, calling for strict enforcement of the firecracker ban in the capital. In an effort to reduce pollution, Minister Rai announced on October 14 that the production, storage, distribution, and use of firecrackers would be prohibited in the city until January 1.
