New Delhi:
The pollution level in Delhi spiked after the Diwali night but it was relatively low as compared to the last three years. This could be the result of Supreme Court’s ban on sale of crackers in the National Capital Region (NCR).
However, the dream of celebrating a cracker-free Diwali couldn’t be achieved as many Delhiites didn’t pay heed to the worsening air quality in the capital and surroundings.
The data released by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) and the Central Pollution Control Board indicated that the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was 319 after the festival of lights.
The AQI for the current year falls under the very poor category but it is still better than the last two years. It was 343 and 431 in 2015 & 2016, respectively.
ALSO READ | With 2.5 million deaths in 2015, India ranked highest in terms of lives lost due to pollution: Report
After the Diwali night, the AQI for Delhi was 340, which was 360 in 2015 and 445 in 2016.
However, Delhi’s RK Puram and Shadipur areas’ AQI was recorded at 978 & 420, respectively, which fall under the hazardous category.
ALSO READ: Sensex rises over 72 points in Muhurat trading session on Diwali
