New Delhi: Delhi was ranked the world’s most polluted major city on November 7 morning, according to Swiss air quality monitoring group IQAir, as the Indian capital faced worsening pollution levels ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, which falls on November 8.
IQAir placed Delhi at the top of its live global pollution ranking at 10.35 am (0505 GMT), recording a US Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 581. The figure was more than twice the reading recorded in Lahore, Pakistan, which stood at 285.
However, IQAir’s measurements, based on concentrations of air pollutants, are not directly comparable with India’s official AQI because the two systems follow different scales and measurement methodologies.
India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded Delhi’s AQI at 363 at 10 am on November 7, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. Local media, citing official figures, reported that November 6 recorded Delhi’s worst pre-Diwali air quality in eight years.
The worsening air quality comes a day before Diwali celebrations, when the widespread use of firecrackers traditionally adds to pollution levels. Authorities have already directed schools in and around Delhi to offer online classes and encouraged employees to work from home to limit exposure to polluted air.
Air pollution is a recurring problem across northern India during the onset of winter. Cold, dense air traps pollutants closer to the ground, allowing emissions from vehicles, construction dust, and smoke from agricultural waste burning to accumulate.
The situation is expected to remain a concern as Diwali celebrations could further increase pollution levels, particularly through fireworks and firecracker use.
With firecracker use expected during Diwali, concerns remain over another spike in pollution levels in Delhi, adding pressure on authorities to protect public health and limit exposure to hazardous air.
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