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Delhi Diwali Air Quality: Extreme Pollution Levels Revealed
9 Nov
Summary
- PM2.5 levels reached over 3,700 µg/m³ on Diwali night in Delhi.
- Many official hourly air quality readings were initially missing from records.
- Air quality index calculations were significantly impacted by the missing data.
Delhi's air quality plummeted to extreme levels on Diwali night, with PM2.5 particulate matter readings reaching a staggering 3,744 micrograms per cubic meter in some areas. This figure is more than 60 times the national 24-hour standard. The highest concentrations were recorded in the early morning hours of November 9, with multiple monitoring stations reporting levels exceeding 2,000 µg/m³.
Adding to the concern, hourly air quality readings for Diwali night were initially missing from official records. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee released these delayed figures on Monday evening, revealing that all 125 previously missing station-hours exceeded 1,000 µg/m³. These released readings align with existing data where available, indicating the severity of the pollution event and its underrepresentation in initial reports.
