Delhi’s Diwali greys return as crackers burnt with gay abandon
Here is a look at the run-up to and aftermath of Diwali 2021 in Delhi
Delhi and its surrounding towns woke up to a smoggy and hazy morning November 5, a day after the national capital celebrated Diwali with almost pre-pandemic like fervour. Here, a Metro train plies over the Noida-Akshardham Link Road at Mayur Vihar Phase 1, Delhi. Photo: Vikas Choudhary / CSE
Delhi and its surrounding cities and towns woke up to a smoggy and hazy morning November 5, a day after the national capital celebrated Diwali with almost pre-pandemic like fervour. Here, a Metro train plies over the Noida-Akshardham Link Road at Mayur Vihar Phase 1, Delhi. Photo: Vikas Choudhary / CSE
Particulate Matter (PM)2.5 in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) at 10.34 am November 5 was seven times the average level of 60 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m³) at 417 µg/m³. On the other hand, PM10 was six times its average level of 100 µg/m³ at 598 µg/m³. Here, a water tank is silhouetted against the Ghazipur landfill in Delhi. Photo: Vikas Choudhary / CSE
The situation had begun to worsen on Diwali day itself. At around 4 pm in the evening November 4, Delhi had an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 382. The CPCB’s Central Control Room recorded Particulate Matter (PM)2.5 levels in Delhi-NCR to be 309 microgram per cubic metre (µg / m³) at 11.30 pm November 4. PM10 levels were recorded to be 500 µg / m³ at 3.30 am. Here, commuters drive on National Highway 24 near Sarai Kale Khan, Delhi. Photo: Vikas Choudhary / CSE
Despite the ominous signs building up in the days leading to Diwali – drop in temperature, change in wind direction and stubble burning in states to the north, pollution monitors did not put in place arrangements in accordance with emergency conditions. Here, vehicles travel through smog on the Nizamuddin Bridge over the Yamuna in Delhi. Photo: Vikas Choudhary / CSE
Despite a ban on firecrackers put in place by the Supreme Court in 2019, people in the national capital burst them with gay abandon. Here, two children light crackers in Vaishali in Ghaziabad district, Uttar Pradesh. Photo: Vikas Choudhary / CSE
Air quality will be severe November 5 and 6, according to forecasts. It will start to improve November 7, according to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune. Here, a tanker sprinkles water on a road in Anand Vihar, Delhi to reduce dust. Photo: Vikas Choudhary / CSE
