Delhi, on Wednesday, was covered with thick layer of smog post Diwali, as air pollution soared in the NCR region, worsening the Air Quality Index (AQI). According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI was recorded 345, which is categorised as "very poor."
The conditions were even worse in some areas. Early morning readings, at around 6:15 am, Ashok Vihar, Bawana, and Dilshad Garden showed an AQI of 380. While other parts of the city, including DTU, IGI Airport, and Lodhi Road recorded a reading of AQI below 300, registered in the 'poor category.'
The Sameer app, which is developed by the CPCB revealed four stations - Dwarka (417), Wazirpur (423), Anand Vihar (404), and Ashok Vihar (404), entering the 'severe' pollution category on Tuesday.
Delhi's 24-hour average AQI, which was recorded by 4 pm remained "very poor " at a range of 345, rising above Sunday's 326. Moreover, the authorities have warned that air quality can even deteriorate further in the coming days.
Stage-II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is now in effect across the Delhi-NCR region. The decision was taken after the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) forecasted about the declining air quality.
Data by the Decision Support System (DSS) showed that the transport emissions contributed 15.6 percent of the Delhi pollution on Monday, with industries and other sources accounting for 23.3 percent.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had allowed the sale and bursting of green firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region during the festival of Diwali, but only between 6 am and 7 pm, and from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali eve and the day of the festival.