Sat Nov 02 13:49:23 UTC 2024: ## Delhi’s Air Quality Remains “Very Poor” After Diwali, Despite Slight Improvement
**New Delhi, November 3, 2024** – Delhi’s air quality continued to languish in the “very poor” category on Saturday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 321, according to the latest data. This marks a slight improvement from Friday’s AQI of 359, but still significantly higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended limit.
The city saw a spike in pollution levels following Diwali celebrations on October 31, with the AQI reaching 14 times the WHO limit. While PM2.5 levels have decreased by 4% compared to last year’s Diwali, PM10 levels have increased by 11%.
Despite this, the overall pollution levels on Diwali day were lower than the last two years, with an average 24-hour AQI of 330, compared to 218 in 2023 and 312 in 2022.
However, the post-Diwali AQI has also improved slightly, with a 24-hour average of 339 on Friday, compared to 358 on the same day last year. This improvement is attributed to a significant increase in wind speed on Friday morning, which helped disperse pollutants.
The AQI, introduced in 2014, provides a simple numerical representation of complex air quality data, categorizing pollution levels from “good” to “severe.”
While Delhi’s air quality remains concerning, the slight improvements following Diwali provide some hope that the city may be making progress in mitigating the effects of air pollution. However, continued efforts to reduce emissions and improve air quality monitoring are crucial to ensure a healthier future for Delhi’s residents.
First Piper 