On Monday, three Indian cities secured positions in the top 10 most polluted cities globally, a day after Diwali celebrations. New Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata experienced unhealthy air quality due to firecracker festivities during the Hindu festival of light, as reported by Reuters.
As customary, New Delhi claimed the top spot with an air quality index (AQI) of 407, signaling poor air quality since the start of November. The Swiss group IQAir categorized Delhi’s air as “hazardous.”
Mumbai, India’s financial capital, secured the sixth position with an AQI of 157, while Kolkata ranked seventh with an AQI of 154. AQI levels between 0 and 50 are considered good, 150-200 distress individuals with respiratory and cardiac issues, and 400-500 affect the health of the general population.
Since Sunday night, a dense layer of smog enveloped New Delhi, reaching an alarming AQI of 680 after midnight. Despite annual bans on firecrackers in the national capital, enforcement remains challenging.
Member of Rajya Sabha Saket Gokhake posted a letter on X, seeking details from local police on firecracker use cases and urging action against offenders.
Northern India witnesses air quality deterioration annually before winter, with cold air trapping pollutants from vehicles, industry, construction dust, and agricultural burning.
Following brief rain on Friday, the authorities in New Delhi postponed a decision to restrict vehicle use based on odd or even registration numbers. The rain provided some relief from a week of toxic air.
In response to pollution concerns, the local government announced a continued ban on construction activities and the closure of schools until further notice.
As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s air quality remains in the ‘very poor’ category. Authorities used water guns near Sarai Kale Khan to sprinkle water, aiming to mitigate air pollution.
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