According to a Central Pollution Control Bureau (CPCB) bulletin, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was 'very poor', with a reading of 352 at 8 am. It was 346 at 5 am, 347 at 6 am and 351 at 7 am
Pic/PTI
Delhi residents woke up on Tuesday to heavy grey haze darkening the city skies, reduced visibility and the air quality in the 'red zone' after many celebrated Diwali last night by bursting firecrackers beyond the two-hour limit set by the Supreme Cour, reported news agency PTI.
According to a Central Pollution Control Bureau (CPCB) bulletin, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was 'very poor', with a reading of 352 at 8 am. It was 346 at 5 am, 347 at 6 am and 351 at 7 am, reported PTI.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
The CPCB's SAMEER app, which provides real-time AQI data from monitoring stations, was not updated on Tuesday morning.
The Supreme Court had allowed the use of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR between 8 pm and 10 pm on Diwali, which was celebrated on Monday. However, many flouted the court directions, with celebrations continuing late into the night.
Delhi's AQI stood at 349 at 12 am and 348 at 1 am, according to hourly data from the CPCB.
On Monday, 36 of the capital's 38 monitoring stations recorded pollution levels in the 'red zone', indicating 'very poor' to 'severe' air quality across the city.
Delhi's 24-hour average AQI on Monday, reported at 4 pm every day, was in the 'very poor' category at 345.
The air quality is expected to slip into the 'severe' category more widely on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Meanwhile, as the festive lights of Diwali fade, a thick blanket of smog engulfs the skies, with air pollution levels rising sharply across major cities in Rajasthan, Delhi and other states.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Rajasthan stood at 243 as of 8 am today. Bhiwadi recorded the highest AQI in the state at 318, while Ajmer Civil Lines reported 228, Kota 227, and Udaipur 220 all falling in the "poor" category. Baran registered an AQI of 207, Hanumangarh 253, Bikaner 231, and Churu 220.
In Mumbai the air quality was recorded at 214, Patna at 224, Jaipur at 231, and Lucknow at 222 all under the "poor" category. Bengaluru's AQI was 94, Chennai's 153, and Hyderabad's 107.
Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, Mumbai, a thin layer of smog was witnessed at the Dadar beach.
As per CPCB parameters, an AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor, and 401-500 severe. During "very poor" air quality, residents may face breathing discomfort, while "severe" levels can impact even healthy individuals and worsen existing conditions.
(With inputs from PTI)
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
