Delhi Struggles To Breath As Smog Engulfs Capital, PM2.5 Rises By 45% On Diwali Compared To 2022

A layer of smog blanketed the national capital on Monday while toxic foam was seen floating in river Yamuna. The Delhi government blamed the bursting of firecrackers as the cause behind this spike in air pollution after Diwali.

Delhi Metro train moving on the tracks while encountering low visibility due to the smog

Source : PTI

While Delhi was projected to witness the cleanest Diwali in the past eight years, the locals burst firecrackers across the NCR region, flouting the Supreme Court's ban. The result of the same was seen on the very next morning as the AQI stood at 434 ('Severe' category). A yellowish smog engulfed the national capital on Monday and could be seen through the evening. The local municipal body tried to counter the pollutio by deploying anti-smog guns in the city that sprinkled water on the streets.

#WATCH | Haze envelopes parts of Delhi as overall air quality remains in 'very poor' category

(Drone visuals from near Barapullah flyover, shot at 3:30 pm today) pic.twitter.com/BofypbteyC

— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2023

News agency ANI shared the visual of an anti-smog gun being used near the Sarai Kale Khan area.

#WATCH | To mitigate pollution, water was sprinkled through anti-smog guns near Sarai Kale Khan

The air quality in Delhi continues to be in the 'very poor' category as per CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board). pic.twitter.com/6B8EPqkxzX

— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2023

Besides the worrying air pollution, a large amount of toxic foam was seen floating on the surface of river Yamuna near the Kalindi Kunj area at around 4 pm today.

#WATCH | Drone visuals from Kalindi Kunj area of Delhi as the pollution level in the city remains in the 'Very Poor' category.

(Video shot at 4.10 pm) pic.twitter.com/yuVqa7bTSl

— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2023

The concentration of fine, lung-damaging particles known as PM2.5 rose by 45 per cent on Diwali as compared to 2022, said the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).

Concentration of fine, lung-damaging particles known as PM2.5 rose by 45 percent on Diwali compared to 2022: Delhi pollution control body

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 13, 2023

Delhi recorded a 24-hour average PM2.5 concentration of 314 micrograms per cubic meter. In 2022, the 24-hour average PM2.5 concentration stood at 217 micrograms per cubic meter, and in 2021, it stood at 607 micrograms per cubic meter, as reported by news agency PTI.

According to the DPCC, the PM10 concentration on Diwali rose by 33 per cent as compared to last year. 

PM10 concentration on Diwali rose by 33 percent compared to last year: Delhi Pollution Control Committee

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 13, 2023

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai while talking about this increase in air pollution said, "The bursting of firecrackers has increased pollution levels in Delhi. Not many people have burst firecrackers but, it was done in some places in a targeted manner. The way BJP leaders were inciting people, its result can be seen today."

The BJP, on the other hand, responded to the allegation by blaming Rai for "doing politics of polarisation."