Post-Diwali haze blankets Delhi as people defy ban on crackers

 

 

A THICK layer of haze blanketed Delhi, with the national capital’s AQI plunging to 362 on Friday as people defied a citywide ban on firecrackers during Diwali celebrations. Delhi also recorded its most polluted Diwali in three years. On Diwali on Thursday, the city’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 330, compared to 218 in 2023 and 312 in 2022, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. The national capital’s AQI was recorded in the ‘very poor’ category with a reading of 362 at 9 am on Friday. Most monitoring stations in Delhi showed similar pollution levels, with 37 out of 39 reporting air quality in the ‘very poor’ category. According to the Sameer app that provides hourly updates of the national AQI published by the CPCB, the AQI in Alipur was recorded at 355, Anand Vihar at 396, Ashok Vihar at 389, Aaya Nagar 351, Bawana at 396, Burari at 394 and Mathura Road at 371. At IGI Airport, the AQI was at 371, Dwarka at 376, Jahangirpuri at 390, Mundka at 375, Patparganj at 365, Rohini at 390, Sonia Vihar at 396, and Wazirpur at 390. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good,’ 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory,’ 101 and 200 ‘moderate,’ 201 and 300 ‘poor,’ 301 and 400 ‘very poor,’ 401 and 450 ‘severe’ and above 450 ‘severe plus.’

 

The concentration of PM2.5 -- fine particles which easily penetrate the respiratory system and pose serious health risks, especially for children, the elderly and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions -- also exceeded the safe limit. At 6 am on Friday, the PM2.5 concentration in Delhi was recorded at 207.8 micrograms per cubic metre. The safe limit for PM2.5 is 60 micrograms per cubic metre. In an effort to combat the spike in pollution during and after Diwali, the Delhi Government had enforced a comprehensive ban on firecrackers for the fifth consecutive year, prohibiting their manufacture, storage, sale and use. The city Government had also set up 377 enforcement teams and spread awareness through local associations to ensure compliance with the ban. Police teams were deployed to monitor neighbourhoods, with officials warning that legal action would be taken against violators. Despite these efforts, there was large-scale flouting of the restrictions in neighbourhoods across Delhi. Reports indicated widespread defiance across east and west Delhi, with firecrackers lighting up the sky in areas such as Jaunapur, Punjabi Bagh, Burari and East of Kailash.

 

Last year, a decrease in stubble burning incidents in neighbouring states and favourable meteorological conditions, including rain, prevented the national capital from turning into a gas chamber after Diwali. On Friday, the national capital’s minimum temperature was recorded 2.3 notches above normal at 18.4 degrees Celsius. The wind speed was around 10 kilometres per hour, according to the weather office. Higher wind speeds help disperse pollutants, improving the air quality. At 8:30 am, the humidity level was at 70 per cent on Friday. The weather office has forecast clear skies during the day. Meanwhile, the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) experienced a surge in fire-related calls this Diwali with more than 300 such incidents reported across the city, which is the highest in the past 13 years, an official said on Friday. According to officials, the increase is attributed to the extensive use of firecrackers. “The figure marks the highest number of Diwali-related fire and emergency incidents in the past 13 years,” DFS chief Atul Garg said.

 

The DFS, which had ramped up its readiness for the festival by deploying fire engines and personnel across the city, reported that most calls were received between 5 pm on October 31 and 5 am on November 1. According to the data shared by the DFS, they had received 206 fire-related calls in 2011, 184 in 2012, 177 in 2013, 211 in 2014, 290 in 2015, 243 in 2016, 204 in 2017, 271 in 2018, 245 in 2019, 205 in 2020, 152 in 2021, 201 in 2022 and 208 in 2023. “This year, we received 318 fire-related calls. The number is the highest in the last 13 years. “We were also fully prepared to tackle any and every situation with deployment of all the fire units and officials. We cancelled all the leaves and were ready to help everyone across the city,” Garg said. He said at least 78 calls regarding fire incidents were received between 4 pm and 9 pm. He said the peak time of such calls this year was 6 pm to 11.59 pm, when the DFS received 176 fire-related calls, and from 12 am to 6 am, when received 144 calls. “Last year during the same time, we had received 195 fire-related calls,” he added.

 

The relentless bursting of firecrackers through the night blanketed Delhi in dense smoke, causing severe noise pollution and reducing visibility as residents defied the ban on firecrackers and celebrated Diwali on Thursday. In an effort to combat the annual spike in pollution, the Delhi Government had enforced a comprehensive ban on firecrackers for the fifth consecutive year, prohibiting their manufacture, storage, sale and use. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai mobilised 377 enforcement teams, working closely with resident welfare associations, market committees and social organisations to promote compliance. Police were deployed to monitor neighbourhoods, with officials warning that legal action would be taken against violators under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for defying Government orders. Meanwhile, another official of the DFS said they received three calls of fatal nature. Two calls were received from Sagarpur area and one was received from Daryaganj area. According to the southwest district police, they received two different calls regarding suicide at Sagarpur police station. In the first call, a 44-year-old man, identified as Madanlal, committed suicide near Air India Colony.

 

“His body was found in an autorickshaw. He was addicted to alcohol and used to work as a labourer. “No foul play behind the matter was suspected,” a senior police officer said. He further said another call was also regarding suicide, this time by a 22-year-old man. “Another PCR call regarding suicide was received at 7.16 pm saying a man committed suicide by hanging himself in his house. The deceased was identified as Tushar,” said the officer. He said a suicide note was also found which did not blame anyone behind his step, the officer said. A police officer of central district said they received a call regarding the death of a 52-year-old man in a house in Daryaganj area. “He was suffering from some ailment. He died due to multiple organ failure in his house,” he said, adding that no foul play was suspected behind his death. 

 

 

AT LEAST two persons died and 50 people were injured in various incidents of fire across Odisha during Diwali celebrations, police said on Friday. In addition, properties valued at lakhs of rupees were gutted during the festival of lights on Thursday night, the police said. Two minor boys succumbed to burn injuries and one woman was injured in a fire incident at Batagaon in Puri town following a firecracker blast. The deceased were identified as Sanjay Jena and Bula Rout. Rout’s sister-in-law Lipa Routh received critical burn injuries and is under treatment at a hospital in Bhubaneswar, a police officer said. The deceased had reportedly suffered 80 per cent burns. Puri Superintendent of Police Vinit Agarwal said an investigation is on into the firecracker explosion and stringent action will be taken against those involved in illegal cracker manufacturing. Around 25 garment shops were gutted in a fire that broke out in a market in Bhubaneswar early on Friday, police said. No one was injured in the incident but garments were damaged due to the blaze, a senior police officer said.