AIR quality in India’s capital has plummeted to alarming levels in recent days, with pollution readings soaring 25-30 times above the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended safe limits.

Data from the government-run SAFAR website revealed that levels of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) reached a staggering 350 micrograms per cubic meter in some areas on Monday, categorizing the air quality as “severe.”

Experts attribute the worsening conditions to a combination of weather patterns, the upcoming Diwali festival, and ongoing crop stubble burning in neighboring states like Punjab and Haryana.

As farmers burn stubble to clear fields, thick smoke adds to the city’s notorious winter smog, exacerbated by low wind speeds and vehicular emissions.

The situation is expected to deteriorate further this week, coinciding with Diwali celebrations, during which the use of firecrackers typically surges.

Although the Delhi government has enacted a complete ban on the manufacturing, storage, and sale of fireworks, previous attempts to enforce such bans have often been undermined by residents sourcing them from other states.

In response to the crisis, the Delhi government has deployed water tankers to settle dust on roads and has activated its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which restricts activities that rely on coal and firewood and limits diesel generator use for non-emergency purposes.

Authorities are urging residents to minimize outdoor exposure and to utilize public transport to reduce vehicular emissions.(CMM)

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