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Diwali Firecrackers Ignite Debate on Alarming Air Pollution Disparity
22 Oct
Summary
- Dhruv Rathee's video on Diwali firecrackers sparks debate on Delhi's air quality
- AQI in Delhi reaches hazardous levels, 10 times higher than WHO guidelines
- Toronto and European cities report AQI in single digits on Diwali
A heated debate over Diwali firecrackers has sparked a discussion on the alarming air pollution disparity between Delhi and other cities around the world. The controversy began when social media personality Dhruv Rathee posted a video addressing those who were criticizing him for advising against bursting firecrackers. Rathee, who is based in Germany, said he was unaffected by the trolling as he was breathing comfortably in a city with an AQI between 10 and 20.
In response, a Canada-based user shared screenshots showing the stark difference between Delhi's and Toronto's air quality on Diwali. While parts of Delhi recorded an AQI exceeding 500, which is 10 times higher than the WHO's healthy limit, the AQI in Toronto's East York district remained in the single digits at just 2. Similar comparisons emerged, with the Netherlands and Norway also reporting AQI levels below 50 on the same day.
Delhi's air quality crisis on Diwali night and the following morning highlights the city's ongoing struggle with extreme pollution, in stark contrast to the clean air enjoyed by many global cities. This debate has once again brought the issue of air pollution in India's capital to the forefront, underscoring the need for urgent action to address this pressing environmental concern.
