The national capital woke up to a thick layer of smog on Diwali morning, with the city’s air quality index (AQI) entering the “very poor” category, crossing the 300-mark.
According to the SAMEER app by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi recorded an overall AQI of 339 at 9 am. Data from 38 monitoring stations showed that most parts of the city reported air quality levels above 300.
Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 414 and Wazirpur 412, both remaining in the “severe” category.Several other areas, including Bawana (369), Pusa (371), and Ashok Vihar (394), also reported “very poor” air quality, while some locations such as Sri Aurobindo Marg (165) and DTU (198) recorded comparatively better readings.Earlier, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR. The decision followed a review by the GRAP Sub-Committee on Saturday of rising pollution levels and forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, which warned of further deterioration in the coming days.
Last Wednesday, the Supreme Court permitted the sale and use of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR under certain conditions, allowing them between 6 am and 7 pm, and again from 8 pm to 10 pm on the day before Diwali and on the festival day itself.
