New Delhi, Oct 20 — The national capital woke up to a thick layer of smog on Diwali morning as the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) slipped into the “very poor” category, crossing the 300-mark. According to the Central Pollution Control Board’s SAMEER app, Delhi recorded an overall AQI of 339 at 9 am on Sunday.
Among the worst-affected areas were Anand Vihar with an AQI of 414 and Wazirpur at 412, both falling in the “severe” category. Several other stations, including Bawana (369), Pusa (371), and Ashok Vihar (394), also reported “very poor” levels of pollution. In contrast, a few pockets such as Sri Aurobindo Marg (165) and DTU (198) saw comparatively better air quality.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has already invoked Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR in anticipation of worsening air. The Sub-Committee on GRAP took the decision after reviewing forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), both of which warned of a further spike in pollution over the weekend.
Last week, the Supreme Court had allowed limited use of green firecrackers between specific hours on Diwali eve and Diwali day, but enforcement remains a challenge as residents continued to burst regular crackers late into the night.
Officials said calm wind conditions and increased emissions from firecrackers and vehicular activity contributed to the sharp overnight spike in pollution. The air quality is expected to remain in the “very poor” to “severe” range over the next 48 hours.
