Delhi chokes on post-Diwali smog; AQI touches 449 in Sonia Vihar
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New Delhi: Delhi's air quality deteriorated sharply on Monday following Diwali celebrations, with several parts of the national Capital recording pollution levels in the 'Severe' category and the AQI touching 449 in Sonia Vihar.
A thick layer of smog enveloped several neighbourhoods during the morning, reducing visibility across parts of the city, including Inderlok.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) Sameer application, Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 376, falling in the 'Very Poor' category.
Sonia Vihar recorded the highest AQI at 449, followed by Burari Crossing at 445 and Vivek Vihar at 441. Jahangirpuri registered 439, while North Campus of Delhi University and Rohini recorded 437 and 435, respectively. Several other locations, including Bawana, DTU, Chandni Chowk and Patparganj, also reported severe air quality.
The deterioration has renewed concerns over the enforcement of restrictions on firecracker use. Despite Supreme Court directions limiting bursting hours until 10 p.m., firecrackers were reportedly used beyond the deadline in several areas.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee's website reportedly stopped displaying live readings from multiple monitoring stations for several hours on Diwali night, raising questions about the availability of real-time pollution data.
Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra also accused AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal of running a campaign against Deepavali under the pretext of pollution concerns.
With IANS inputs