With a promise to record its cleanest Diwali this year, Delhi on Sunday woke up to clear and bright skies with a reduced pollution level aided by sudden rain. And if all goes well and residents abide by the firecracker ban, the national capital might see its cleanest Diwali this year and to ensure the same, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has appealed to people to celebrate the festival with grandeur but not burst crackers, adding that all eyes will be on Delhi the very next day.
He said, "...I appeal to people of Delhi and nearby areas of Delhi, Diwali is a festival of diyas, celebrate Diwali in a grand manner by lighting diyas but don't burst crackers and make it difficult for people to breathe because the festival is to spread happiness..."
To the delight of residents, the national capital -- reeling under severe pollution for days -- witnessed a sudden weather change with rain bringing down the pollution by several notches. Even as the Air Quality Index was recorded in the 'poor' category, people heaved a sigh of relief as the city consumed toxic air in the 'severe' category for two weeks since October 28.
On Saturday, the 24-hour average air quality index stood at 220, marking the cleanest day before Diwali in eight years.
With sudden rain and favourable wind speed, the national capital witnessed drastic changes in the air quality ahead of the festival of Diwali with the situation improving rapidly from Thursday when the AQI was recorded at 437 in the 'severe' category.
Last year, Delhi recorded an AQI of 312, the capital stood at 382 in 2021, 414 in 2020, 337 in 2019, 281 in 2018, 319 in 2017, and 431 in 2016, according to the data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board.
To mitigate the pollution menace, Delhi has also announced a complete ban on the sale and use of firecrackers. However, a few incidents of firecracker burning were reported in the capital on Saturday.