Delhi records ‘poor’ air quality after Diwali festivities

The air quality level in Delhi was in the higher end of the “poor” category on Saturday after two days of Diwali festivities.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board, the national capital recorded an average air quality index of 297 at 1 pm. Anand Vihar recorded the worst air quality with the index at 394, which falls under the “severe” category.

An index value between 0 and 50 indicates “good” air quality, between 51 and 100 indicates “satisfactory” air quality and between 101 and 200 indicates “moderate” air quality.

A value between 201 and 300 indicates “poor” air quality while between 301 and 400 indicates “very poor” air. Between 401 and 450 indicates “severe” air pollution while anything above the 450 threshold is termed “severe plus”.

Despite being prohibited, firecrackers were lit across the city as part of the Diwali festivities. On Friday morning, Delhi’s air pollution level was nearly 14 times more than the “safe” limit prescribed by the World Health Organization.

The average concentration of PM2.5 in the national capital was 209.3 μg/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre of air) at 8 am on Friday, data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed.

PM2.5 refers to respirable airborne particles smaller than 0.0025 mm in width.

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