NEW DELHI: Two days after Diwali, Delhi on Wednesday was blanketed by a dense layer of smog, as air pollution levels in the capital rose sharply. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 345, categorized as ‘very poor’.Some areas experienced even worse conditions. Early morning readings at 6.15 am showed AQI around 380 in Ashok Vihar, Bawana and Dilshad Garden. Other parts of the city, including DTU, IGI Airport and Lodhi Road, recorded AQI below 300, falling in the ‘poor’ category.On Tuesday, four stations — Dwarka (417), Wazirpur (423), Anand Vihar (404), and Ashok Vihar (404) — entered the ‘severe’ pollution category, according to the SAMEER app developed by the CPCB. The city’s 24-hour average AQI, reported at 4 pm, also remained in the ‘very poor’ range at 345, higher than Sunday’s 326.Authorities warned that air quality could deteriorate further in the coming days, with Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) now in effect across Delhi-NCR. The decision followed forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).Transport emissions contributed 15.6% of Delhi’s pollution on Monday, while industries and other sources accounted for 23.3%, according to the Decision Support System (DSS).Residents reported health problems, including breathing difficulties and eye irritation. “Pollution hasn’t just increased today; it’s been rising for years,” said Sagar, a local resident. “Everyone blames politicians, but people themselves are responsible. Firecrackers are a choice — then people complain the government isn’t doing anything.”Visuals on Tuesday morning showed Akshardham partially obscured by haze. The Supreme Court had recently allowed the sale and bursting of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR between 6 am and 7 pm, and again from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali eve and the festival day.The CPCB categorises AQI as ‘good’ (0–50), ‘satisfactory’ (51–100), ‘moderate’ (101–200), ‘poor’ (201–300), ‘very poor’ (301–400), and ‘severe’ (401–500).
