Delhi Chokes After Diwali: AQI Hits 'Severe' Mark as Smog Engulfs City
Delhi wakes up to toxic smog as AQI crosses 400 in multiple areas. DTU records the highest pollution levels following Diwali.
The national capital woke up to a suffocating blanket of smog on Monday morning, as Delhi air quality index levels plummeted into the 'severe' category following Diwali celebrations. Residents faced drastically reduced visibility and toxic air, with multiple monitoring stations reporting pollution levels well above the 400 mark.
The Pollution Hotspots: DTU Leads the Surge
Data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at 10 am on Monday revealed a grim picture of the city's atmosphere. The Delhi Technological University (DTU) area emerged as the worst-hit zone, recording a staggering AQI of 439.
Other areas that crossed the 'severe' threshold include:
- Burari Crossing: 433
- Mundka: 425
- Vivek Vihar: 421
- North Campus (DU) & Sonia Vihar: 419
- Rohini: 417
- Bawana: 418
- Jahangirpuri: 415
- ITO: 414
- Punjabi Bagh: 410
- Chandni Chowk & Patparganj: 409
- NIH Narela: 405
While some areas fared slightly better, they remained in the 'poor' or 'very poor' categories. These included Lodhi Road (377), Alipur (374), Okhla Phase-2 (352), Ashok Vihar (337), Anand Vihar (322), and the IGI Airport Terminal 3 (307).
Smog Blankets the City
The physical impact of the pollution was most evident in the early hours of Monday. A dense layer of smog was particularly prominent around the Inderlok area, severely limiting visibility for commuters. In a desperate bid to clear the air, anti-smog guns were seen spraying water along the Ring Road near AIIMS to settle the suspended particulate matter.
Political Row Over Data Accuracy
Amidst the environmental crisis, a political storm has erupted. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) president Saurabh Bhardwaj has accused the government of manipulating pollution data to hide the true extent of the crisis.
Speaking to ANI, Bhardwaj alleged that the government is intentionally shutting down monitoring stations in highly polluted zones. He further claimed that 20 new stations have been strategically placed in remote, green areas to bring down the average readings. Most shockingly, Bhardwaj alleged that water is being sprinkled directly over monitoring stations in polluted areas to artificially lower the AQI readings.
GRAP Stage III in Effect
The deterioration in air quality follows the decision by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to invoke Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) last Friday. This move was made three days before Diwali as a precautionary measure based on forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).
Stage III measures, which apply to Delhi and adjoining districts of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, involve stricter enforcement of pollution-control measures and additional restrictions to prevent the air from reaching catastrophic levels.
Understanding the AQI Scale
To put these numbers in perspective, the CPCB classifies air quality as follows:
- 0–50: Good
- 51–100: Satisfactory
- 101–200: Moderate
- 201–300: Poor
- 301–400: Very Poor
- 401–500: Severe