Air quality 'hazardous' in Delhi following Diwali festival

NEW DELHI - The air quality in Delhi rose to "hazardous" levels on Friday morning post Diwali night following the bursting of firecrackers despite a ban imposed by the government.

A thick blanket of smoke engulfed the capital city where the air quality deteriorated after the festival of lights, or the Diwali, was celebrated across India on Thursday.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the overall air quality index (AQI) in Delhi was 617 (PM2.5) at 11:00 am which falls in "hazardous" category.

Despite a strict ban on the bursting of firecrackers in and around Delhi, the sound of firecrackers was still heard till late Thursday night. The air quality had already fallen into the "severe" level before Diwali.

The cities adjoining Delhi too had AQI above "severe" category on Friday morning.

An AQI of 0-50 is considered "good", 51-100 "satisfactory", 101-200 "moderate", 201-300 "poor", 301-400 "very poor", and 401-500 as "severe".

A Press Trust of India (PTI) report quoted experts as saying that the air quality turned severe due to unfavorable meteorological conditions such as calm winds, low temperature and low mixing height, besides emissions from firecrackers and stubble burning.