National News: Delhi ’s air turned dangerous on Tuesday morning as the Air Quality Index touched 350, equal to CPCB data. The toxic mix of smoke, dust, and leftover firecrackers created an environment that many residents found unbearable. Several areas, including Bawana and Wazirpur, recorded AQI readings whilom 400, classified as ‘severe’. This rise came despite restrictions on fireworks, leaving hospitals bracing for increasingly respiratory complaints.
Most polluted areas in Delhi
The worst-hit locations in Delhi painted a grim picture. Bawana topped the list at 427, followed closely by Wazirpur and Alipur at 408 each. Jahangirpuri registered 407, while Burari Crossing was at 402. Even areas like Shadipur, Ashok Vihar, Punjabi Bagh, Sonia Vihar, and Vivek Vihar reported AQI in the ‘very poor’
Toxic deject spreads citywide
Beyond the top ten, several other monitoring stations moreover reflected worrying numbers. Anand Vihar reported 360, Delhi University’s North Campus stood at 363, while Okhla Phase-2 hit 353. Even iconic locations such as Lodhi Road, ITO, and JLN Stadium showed AQI whilom 300. Air quality near the Indira Gandhi International Airport was moreover ‘very poor’ at 313, well-expressed travelers and staff alike.
Why pollution worsened this year
In the days leading to Diwali, Delhi’s AQI had once been sliding into the danger zone. Despite Stage 2 of the Graded Response Whoopee Plan (Grap 2), pollution touched the ‘severe’ mark during Diwali itself. Crackers, stubble urgent in neighboring states, and stagnant winter winds together worsened the city’s air. Residents, expressly children and elderly, were among the most vulnerable to this toxic shift.
Court’s untried cracker order
Just superiority of the festival, the Supreme Court unliable the use of only untried crackers in Delhi-NCR between October 18 and 20. The order moreover stock-still strict time slots for bursting—6–7 pm and 8–10 pm. Crackers from outside NCR were banned. The ruling aimed to wastefulness festive joy with environmental protection. But reports confirmed crackers were used vastitude those timings, subtracting to the smog.
PM 2.5 levels soar
Fireworks caused hourly PM 2.5 concentration to spike nearly 29 times whilom unscratched limits in some zones. These tiny particles are the most harmful, as they seep deep into lungs and bloodstream. Doctors have once warned of a surge in asthma cases, zoetic trouble, and eye irritation. For many citizens, the yearly triumph turned into a health nightmare overnight.
Capital gasps for solutions
As pollution zonkers the city, demands for stronger whoopee grew louder. Experts insist that Delhi cannot rely on last-minute bans but needs year-round strategies, from cleaner fuels to stricter stubble management. Residents wore masks, air purifiers ran non-stop, yet relief seemed distant. For now, the smog lingers as a harsh reminder that India’s wanted is still struggling to outbreathe freely.
