Delhi woke under a smoke saturated sky after the
night of Diwali, which resounded with the sound of crackers despite a
ban clamped against their use in view of rising pollution levels.

The air quality index of Delhi stood at 465 as per the Central
pollution Control Board, which defined the condition as ‘severe’.

According to data released by System of Air Quality and Weather
Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the PM2.5 levels in the city rocketed to ‘severe’
levels of 375, while the level of PM 10 stood at 537 on Sunday morning at 10.

The ban on crackers didn’t dampen the spirits of revellers who
burst them till after midnight at many places in the city according to reports. There was a total ban on the sale and use of them starting from November 9 midnight to November 30 midnight due to high
pollution levels in the city.

This year Delhi recorded the most polluted Diwali in at least last four years. 

As per a PTI report, in 2018, the 24-hour average AQI (281) on Diwali was recorded in the “poor” category. It deteriorated to 390 the next day and remained in the “severe” category on three consecutive days thereafter.

In 2017, Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI on Diwali (October 19) stood at 319. It, however, slipped into the “severe” zone the next day.

According to the
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the air quality is considered in the
“severe plus” or “emergency” category
if PM2.5 and PM10 levels persist above 300 µg/m3 and 500 µg/m3
respectively for more than 48 hours.

The PTI reported an overall
AQI of 414 at 4 pm on Saturday. It soared to 454 by 10 pm.

The 24-hour average AQI was 339 on Friday and 314 on
Thursday.

Delhi recorded a 24-hour average AQI of 337 on Diwali last
year (October 27), and 368 and 400 in the next two days. Thereafter, pollution
levels remained in the “severe” category for three days on the trot,
the PTI report said.

According to the India Meteorological Department the
pollution is likely to be dissipated with the increase in the wind speed due the
western disturbance likely to occur soon.

Light rain is likely on Sunday under the influence of a
western disturbance.