Delhi’s AQI slips to ‘severe’ category, AQI recorded at 404 post Diwali

New Delhi: Delhi’s air quality deteriorated further on Monday morning, post Diwali. A thick blanket of smog was seen across Delhi-NCR and the Air Quality Index (AQI) slipped to ‘Severe’ category on Monday morning. The smog also reduced visibility considerably in several parts of the national capital and its surrounding areas.

Data shared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that the monitoring station at ITO, showed an AQI of 406 at around 4:20 am this morning. The AQI was thus in the ‘Severe’ category.

In several other parts of Delhi, the AQI continued to remain in the ‘Very Poor’ category. At Rajiv Chowk, the AQI was 381 at around 1:30 am. The area around South Extension, meanwhile, showed an AQI of 360 at 4 am on Monday.

In Inderlok also, AQI was recorded in the ‘Poor’ category.

The Delhi government has already put in place Stage 3, Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) measures to check the rising pollution levels in the city.

Mumbai records AQI of 170

In Mumbai, Diwali day began with much cleaner air, but the AQI slipped to the poor/hazardous category as the day progressed. This was due to the bursting of firecrackers on the occasion of the festival.

However, the city saw less noise pollution, Data showed the firecracker noise levels were down compared to 2 decades ago. This came with people increasingly switching to green firecrackers and more awareness among the public, regarding pollution.

On Monday morning, Mumbai’s AQI was at 170.