Severe air pollution forecast for Delhi ahead of Diwali celebrations
The Indian capital recorded its worst pre-Diwali air in eight years on Friday, according to local media citing official data, ahead of Sunday’s festival.
- Delhi's air quality has reached "very poor" levels, with one international index ranking it as the most polluted major city in the world.
- The city's air quality ahead of the festival is reportedly the worst it has been in eight years.
- The pollution is expected to worsen due to the widespread use of firecrackers during the upcoming Diwali celebrations.
- In response, authorities have instructed schools to move classes online and have encouraged people to work from home.
Delhi registered two air quality index (AQI) readings on Saturday (November 7) morning: 363 on India’s official scale at 10am and 581 on the US scale used by Swiss group IQAir at 10.35am (0505 GMT).
IQAir’s figure put the capital first in its live pollution ranking of major cities worldwide.
The Central Pollution Control Board classified the official reading as “very poor”.
That figure cannot be compared directly with IQAir’s because the scales and calculation methods differ.
IQAir bases its index on air pollutant concentrations; on that measure, Delhi’s reading was roughly twice the 285 recorded for Lahore in neighbouring Pakistan.
With severe pollution forecast ahead of Diwali, India has instructed schools across Delhi and surrounding areas to make classes available online.
People have also been encouraged to work from home.
Official figures cited by local media showed that Friday marked an eight-year low for Delhi’s pre-Diwali air quality.
The onset of winter brings an annual pollution problem to many parts of northern India.
Cold, dense air holds in emissions from vehicles, dust generated by construction and smoke from burning crop waste.
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, falls on Sunday.
Firecrackers are usually set off widely as part of the celebrations, adding to the air pollution.
Source: Reuters
