"Thick smog blanketed India's capital, a day after millions celebrated the Hindu festival of Diwali with fireworks, sending air pollution levels soaring to hazardous levels across the city. Revellers in New Delhi burst firecrackers late into Monday night, filling the air with smoke and fine particles that mixed with seasonal pollution and stagnant weather conditions. By Tuesday morning, the city's Air Quality Index had climbed above 350 in several neighbourhoods, a level considered severe and dangerous to breathe, according to the World Health Organization's recommended daily maximum exposure."
"India's top court last week eased a blanket ban on firecrackers in New Delhi during Diwali, allowing limited use of green firecrackers that emit fewer pollutants. Developed by federal research institutes, they are designed to cut particulate and gas emissions by about 30 percent. The court had said they could be used during specific hours from Saturday to Tuesday, but, like past years, the rule was mostly flouted."
Thick smog enveloped New Delhi after widespread Diwali firecracker use, raising concentrations of smoke and fine particles that mixed with seasonal pollution and stagnant weather. Several neighbourhoods recorded Air Quality Index readings above 350, a level considered severe and dangerous by World Health Organization daily exposure guidelines. Visibility dropped as a grey haze covered streets, high-rises and monuments. The top court allowed limited use of green firecrackers designed to cut emissions by about 30 percent, but restrictions were largely flouted. New Delhi and its region, home to over 30 million people, also face smoke from crop residue fires. Authorities imposed short-term measures like construction limits and diesel generator restrictions, while calls continue for cleaner energy and stricter vehicle emission controls to prevent recurring seasonal crises.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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