- Three Indian towns rank in the world’s most polluted after Diwali.
- New Delhi recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 420.
- An AQI reading of 400-500 is detrimental to the health.
Two Indian cities joined New Delhi in ranking among the world’s top 10 for pollution, marked by a heavy presence of smoke in the air following the celebration of Diwali on Monday morning.
New Delhi recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 420, categorizing it as hazardous securing its familiar top position’ as per Swiss group IQAir.
Notably, Kolkata in India’s east claimed the fourth spot with an AQI of 196, while the financial hub Mumbai secured the eighth position with an AQI of 163.
An AQI reading of 400-500 is detrimental to the health of both healthy individuals and those with existing medical conditions, while a level of 150-200 brings discomfort to individuals with asthma, lung issues, and heart problems. Levels between 0-50 are considered good.
The onset of a thick layer of smog in New Delhi from Sunday night propelled its AQI to a concerning 680 just after midnight. Enforcement of these restrictions appears sporadic despite annual bans on firecrackers in the capital.
Air quality in India consistently worsens, with cold air trapping pollutants from various sources such as vehicles, industries, construction dust, and agricultural waste burning as winter approaches.
New Delhi’s authorities initially delayed a decision to limit vehicle usage, taking this step after a brief spell of rain on Friday provided some relief in response to a week-long exposure to toxic air. The local government plans to reassess this decision post-Diwali.
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