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Delhi's Air Quality Deteriorates Amid Diwali Celebrations
· Confirmed
In Short: Delhi's air quality deteriorated to near 'severe' levels on Monday morning following Diwali celebrations, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) touching the 400 mark.
Delhi air pollution reaches hazardous levels after Diwali fireworks. Al Jazeera English
Hindu communities across Pakistan celebrated Diwali with enthusiasm, marking the festival with religious rituals, festivities, and colorful decorations.
Traditional rangoli designs adorned some areas, while fireworks added to the celebrations elsewhere.
Ramesh Kumar, a priest at the Shiva Temple, explained the religious significance of Diwali, recalling the return of Shri Ram Chandra after defeating Ravana.
Women attending the event expressed their excitement for Diwali, noting extensive preparations for the festival.
Community members described Diwali as more than a religious celebration, emphasizing its role in bringing people together to share happiness and spread love.
He said lamps were lit across the city to welcome Ram Chandra, describing Diwali as a festival symbolizing the defeat of darkness and the victory of light.
In Karachi, the Hindu community celebrated Diwali with great enthusiasm, decorating the Swaminarayan Temple with colorful lights.
In Tharparkar, Diwali celebrations were underway across several towns, including Mithi, where the Hindu community was marking the religious occasion with traditional rituals and festivities.
The towns of Tharparkar took on a festive appearance, with streets and neighborhoods glowing with Diwali decorations and lights.
Delhi's air quality deteriorated to near 'severe' levels on Monday morning following Diwali celebrations, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) touching the 400 mark.
Burari Crossing registered the highest reading at 441, followed by Vivek Vihar at 437, Delhi Technological University (DTU) at 434, North Campus of Delhi University and Jahangirpuri at 433 each, and Rohini at 430.
Reports indicate that the Air Quality Index (AQI) hit 404, raising concerns about the harmful effects of pollution on public health.
What this adds
Delhi's air quality declined to near 'severe' levels on Monday morning following Diwali celebrations, with residents setting off illegal fireworks.
The deteriorating air quality and poor visibility added to concerns among residents.
The worsening air quality comes after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR on Friday, amid concerns over further deterioration in pollution levels.
Despite restrictions on fireworks, residents in New Delhi celebrated the Hindu festival of lights with firecrackers on Sunday evening, releasing smoke and fine particulate matter into the atmosphere.
Background
Hindu communities in Pakistan are marking Diwali with festivities and religious rituals, while concerns over pollution from fireworks persist in India.
In India, the Deccan Chronicle reported that Delhi's air quality deteriorated to near 'severe' levels on Monday morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 400.
What's confirmed
- Hindu communities across Pakistan celebrated Diwali with enthusiasm, marking the festival with religious rituals, festivities, and colorful decorations.
- Traditional rangoli designs adorned some areas, while fireworks added to the celebrations elsewhere.
- Ramesh Kumar, a priest at the Shiva Temple, explained the religious significance of Diwali, recalling the return of Shri Ram Chandra after defeating Ravana.
- Women attending the event expressed their excitement for Diwali, noting extensive preparations for the festival.
- Community members described Diwali as more than a religious celebration, emphasizing its role in bringing people together to share happiness and spread love.
- He said lamps were lit across the city to welcome Ram Chandra, describing Diwali as a festival symbolizing the defeat of darkness and the victory of light.
- In Karachi, the Hindu community celebrated Diwali with great enthusiasm, decorating the Swaminarayan Temple with colorful lights.
- In Tharparkar, Diwali celebrations were underway across several towns, including Mithi, where the Hindu community was marking the religious occasion with traditional rituals and festivities.
- The towns of Tharparkar took on a festive appearance, with streets and neighborhoods glowing with Diwali decorations and lights.
- Delhi's air quality deteriorated to near 'severe' levels on Monday morning following Diwali celebrations, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) touching the 400 mark.
- Burari Crossing registered the highest reading at 441, followed by Vivek Vihar at 437, Delhi Technological University (DTU) at 434, North Campus of Delhi University and Jahangirpuri at 433 each, and Rohini at 430.
- Reports indicate that the Air Quality Index (AQI) hit 404, raising concerns about the harmful effects of pollution on public health.
What's still developing
- Data for IIT Delhi and Dwarka Sector 8 was unavailable.
- Ongoing discussions about improving air quality will continue as the city grapples with its pollution crisis in future months.
- The data point signifies that the air quality is not safe for sensitive groups, including children and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.
- The situation in Delhi has led to increasing public discourse surrounding environmental policies and the effectiveness of existing regulations aimed at improving air quality.
- The air quality index exceeded 350 in several parts of the capital on Monday morning, reaching the severe category and posing significant health risks.
- The problem is exacerbated in big cities such as Delhi due to a high number of vehicles and construction activity, leaving many residents battling respiratory problems.
- DELHI, India – As India braces for the winter smog season, Delhi has announced a pollution mitigation plan for the expected peak season – fine-tuned from a bold new series of measures first announced in April.
- But only two Delhi suburbs from adjoining states have announced scattered enforcement measures, focusing mainly on stricter compliance with existing restrictions.
- Earlier, Nitish Kumar Reddy’s 3/24 has restricted Afghanistan to 159/8 from 20 overs after Shreyas Iyer’s India won the toss and opted to bowl first against Ibrahim Zadran-led Afghanistan in the second of the three-match T20I series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Tuesday.
- NEW DELHI -- A thick blanket of smog shrouded India’s capital Monday after firecrackers lit up the skies over New Delhi during Diwali celebrations, compounding dangerously high pollution levels and intensifying the seasonal air pollution crisis that grips the city every year.
Sources
- ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videoslink
- Deccan Chroniclelink
- India News Networklink
- Arabnewslink
- Healthpolicy-Watchlink
- The Indian Expresslink
- WarpBeat — background on Delhi air quality deteriorates as revellers mark Diwali with illegal fireworks link
- WarpBeat — background on Delhi Air Quality Deteriorates Amid Diwali Celebrations link
- Al Jazeera English — video link
- FRANCE 24 English — video link
- Associated Press — video link
- India Today — video link