Delhi air pollution passes 50 times WHO limit as Deepavali crackers defy deadline
PM2.5 readings topped 760 micrograms per cubic metre at two Delhi sites as fireworks continued past a court-set 10pm cut-off.
Fine particle pollution reached more than 50 times the World Health Organisation limit in parts of Delhi on Sunday night as residents kept setting off firecrackers after the 10pm deadline set by India's Supreme Court for Deepavali, The Hindu reported, citing official data.
Anand Vihar had the highest of the three readings the newspaper published, with PM2.5 at 767 micrograms per cubic metre at 11pm. That is about 51.13 times the WHO limit of 15 micrograms for a 24-hour period. Akshardham measured 760.99 micrograms at the same hour, or about 50.73 times the limit.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium registered 702 micrograms, about 46.8 times the limit. All three figures came from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. PM2.5 refers to fine inhalable particles that can enter the lungs and bloodstream and lead to respiratory and other diseases.
The Supreme Court had allowed green crackers in Delhi-NCR for two days, according to The Hindu's coverage, which said the court called Deepavali fireworks a "religious practice".
In the run-up to the festival, the Commission for Air Quality Management enforced Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan across Delhi-NCR, NDTV reported.
The Hindu said air pollution rises every winter across Delhi-NCR and much of the Indo-Gangetic Plains, mainly because of lower wind speeds and falling temperatures. Stubble burning in October and November and firecrackers in the festive season add to existing pollution from vehicles and dust, the newspaper said.
NDTV reported that smoke engulfed the city on Diwali night, with its headline putting the Air Quality Index in Delhi-NCR near 400. The Hindu said Delhi's overall air quality remained in the "very poor" category, while many parts of the city were still in the "severe" range. NDTV's figure is an index value, whereas the numbers published by The Hindu are PM2.5 concentrations at individual locations.
Sources: The Hindu, Air pollution over 50 times WHO limit in parts of Delhi as people defy ban on firecrackers on Deepavali; NDTV, Delhi-NCR Chokes On Diwali Night As Smoke Engulfs City, AQI Nears 400.
