Delhi gasps: Worst Diwali air quality since 2022
Every year during Diwali a defiance of the Delhi government’s blanket firecracker ban deteriorates the air quality in the capital.
The air quality on Diwali this year was worse compared to the last two years — the 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) was in the ‘very poor’ category at 328, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. However, data shows that the air was less polluted a day after the festival compared to the last few years because of favourable meteorological conditions such as strong wind speed and warmer temperatures.
CPCB data shows that on Diwali day last year, the AQI was 218 (‘poor’) while it was 312 (‘very poor’) in 2022. This year’s pre-Diwali AQI was also worse than the last two years. A day after Diwali this year, the AQI was 339 — better compared to previous years since 2015, (barring 2022).