Guwahati News Desk: The air quality in Delhi was recorded in the “hazardous” category at Janpath in the city early on Friday, a day after the celebrations of Diwali. The particulate matter (PM) 2.5 concentration was recorded at 655.07 in Janpath on Friday morning, according to sources. As per government standards, PM 2.5 concentrations over 380 are marked as “severe.”
The Delhi government’s complete ban on the sale and bursting of firecrackers, including green crackers, on the day of Diwali, went for a toss after the people were seen celebrating the festival by bursting crackers on the streets, according to several news reports. The bursting of crackers further aggravated the degrading air quality in the city, amid the increased contribution from farm fires and stubble burning.
Several people in the national capital reportedly complained of itchy throat and watery eyes after a thick blanket of smog shrouded the Delhi skies, the report also showed.
“The overall air quality of Delhi is plunged into the upper end of very poor category… It will continue to fall now and may enter at the edge of the “very poor” to “severe” category by tonight,” the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research’s (SAFAR) air quality forecast for Delhi during Diwali this year showed.
