Smog engulfs Delhi on Diwali morning as AQI remains in 'severe' category

New Delhi: The residents of Delhi woke up to thick smog engulfed in parts of the national capital on Saturday (November 14, 2020). The thick smog was due to the rising air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region reducing the visibility.

As per the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) data, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 'severe category' in Anand Vihar which was at 424.  The second highest AQI was recorded in ITO at 400 followed by  IGI Airport area at 328 and  RK Puram at 354.

An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe', while the AQI above 500 falls in the severe plus category. According to experts, the severe category affects the health of people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases.

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India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital is expected to go in the `severe` category on Diwali.

In a bid to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from worsening owing to poor air quality, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a total ban on the sale and use of firecrackers in the National Capital Region from midnight of November 9 to midnight of November 30.