Delhi Smog: Air quality worsens to hazardous category as Delhi-NCR again becomes a 'gas chamber'

The smog over Delhi has thickened in last 48 hours, after the Diwali celebrations which led to an unprecedented increase in the pollution.

The Supreme Court had earlier allowed bursting of firecrackers from 8pm to 10pm only on Diwali in the Delhi-NCR and the sale of ‘green crackers’ by the licensed vendors but the ruling was smoked up in the air by the Delhiites.

Several areas in Delhi including Anand Vihar, ITO and Jahangirpuri have recorded the highest level of pollutants in the air and the Delhi government is planning to mull the odd-even rule back in the national capital.

“The Transport department of the Delhi government issued a notification regarding the ban. It also appealed to private diesel vehicle owners to avoid using their vehicles during the period. As per the notification, entry of heavy and medium goods vehicles into the national capital will be banned from 11pm of November 8 till 11pm of November 11,” said Special Commissioner of Transport department K K Dahiya, as reported by The Indian Express.

"Even if 50 per cent of the total load of toxic fire crackers as compared to Diwali-2017 is added, the prevailing weather conditions will aggravate the high smoke level and make air quality to persist in SEVERE range for at least 2 day (8-9 Nov 2018)," the SAFAR app, developed by the Ministry of Earth and Sciences said in its report.

The pollution in Delhi is at its peak and it’s the responsibility of every institution, including the citizens, to procure an environment where everyone is able to breathe. Delhi needs an ‘air quality manager’ who has a clearly defined power.

Also read: Delhi Smog: After Diwali celebration, air turns hazardous in Delhi; see pics