Diwali: Delhi's air quality on brink of turning 'severe'
The Hindu
According to the Central Pollution Control Board's data, the capital's 24-hour average AQI stood at 382 on November 4, up from 314 on November 3. It was 303 on November 2 and 281 on November 1.
With the share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution rising to 25% on Diwali, the highest this season so far, authorities have said that the air quality in the city may turn "severe" by midnight and shoot up rapidly by November 5 morning, if firecrackers are burnt.
The PM2.5 pollution in the capital may enter the "severe" zone by midnight even if there is 50% of firecrackers emissions as compared to last year, said Gufran Beig, the founder project director of SAFAR.
The PM2.5 pollution will shoot up rapidly by November 5 early morning, with the average air quality index (AQI)even crossing the 500-mark, he said.