Fri Nov 01 06:07:33 UTC 2024: ## Delhi Chokes on Diwali Fireworks, Air Quality Plummets to Severe Levels

**New Delhi:** Delhi’s air quality deteriorated to severe levels on Friday morning, following widespread firework displays on Diwali night. The city’s air quality index (AQI) breached the 300 mark across all areas, with Jahangirpuri registering the highest at 417.

Residents woke up to a thick haze and reported difficulty breathing, eye irritation, and sore throats. This year’s Diwali saw a significant increase in fireworks usage despite a ban, reversing the positive trend seen in the past few years.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an AQI of 327 at 9 PM on Thursday, marking the worst air quality on Diwali in the past three years. While 2023 witnessed cleaner air due to lower stubble burning, favorable weather, and pre-Diwali rainfall, this year’s firework-fueled pollution has pushed Delhi back into a “gas chamber” scenario.

The average AQI on Diwali was 328, compared to 218 in 2023, 312 in 2022, and 382 in 2021.

The spike in pollution has raised concerns about the impact on public health and the need for stricter enforcement of regulations against firework usage.

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