Delhi’s smog saga of the season begins | Fusion - WeRIndia

Delhi’s air turned hazy on Diwali, marking the season’s first major smog.

A study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found that pollution levels on Diwali night were much higher than last year.

The main reasons were firecracker smoke and stubble burning from nearby states.

This year, the amount of fine particles, or PM2.5, in the air was 34% more than on Diwali in 2022. Nitrogen oxide levels were also higher.

The study showed that PM2.5 spiked by 46% between October 28 and October 31, with a peak of 603 micrograms per cubic meter around midnight on Diwali.

Local cracker use and farm fires pushed these levels up, with stubble burning making up about 27% of the city’s pollution on Diwali.

Some areas experienced extreme pollution. At nine air quality stations in the city, PM2.5 levels were over 900 micrograms per cubic meter.

Nehru Nagar had the worst air, with PM2.5 levels reaching 994, followed by Anand Vihar, Pusa IMD, and JLN Stadium, which were also heavily affected.

Farm fires, mainly in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, rose sharply on October 31. Winds from the northwest carried the smoke into Delhi.

Though pollution levels were high, warm weather and steady winds helped clear the air faster than expected.

However, nitrogen oxide pollution from vehicles remained high. ITO recorded the highest nitrogen oxide levels, with other areas like JLN Stadium and Patparganj also affected.

With colder, calmer weather on the way, the CSE warns that pollution may build up again. Reducing pollution from local sources will be essential to prevent severe air quality issues in the coming months.

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Low_visibility_due_to_Smog_at_New_Delhi_Railway_station_31st_Dec_2017_after_9AM_DSCN8829_1.jpg