![Delhi's air quality continues to Deteriorate](/media/k2/items/src/Delhi-air-quality-Deteriorate.jpg)
(Image source from: Ndtv.com)
Delhi's air quality kept deteriorating on Sunday, with thick smog covering the city's skies. Air pollution at Anand Vihar reached "severe" levels, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 424 around 9 p.m., the worst in the country. Many areas in the city continued to have high air pollution even after Diwali. Fifteen monitoring stations reported air quality in the 'severe' zone, with AQI readings over 400. The city's average AQI, measured at 4 pm daily, was 382, worsening from 316 the previous day. The temporary relief from pollution due to winds was short-lived, as air quality continued to worsen after the Diwali festivities, when a complete cracker ban was widely disregarded. Delhi also recorded its lowest nighttime temperature so far, as thick smog and haze made it almost impossible for sunlight to penetrate during the day.
The temperature was significantly higher than usual, reaching 33.2 degrees Celsius, which is 2.7 degrees above the normal. Fog conditions are expected to continue on Monday. The Delhi chief minister, Atishi, announced that 10,000 civil defence volunteers, who were previously removed from their roles as bus marshals, will be deployed within the next 2-4 days to assist in combating air pollution. These personnel were removed last year due to objections from the revenue and finance departments. Atishi accused the BJP leaders of engaging in 'dirty politics' regarding the bus marshal issue, stating that their salaries were stopped in April last year, and they were ultimately removed in October 2023 due to a conspiracy by the BJP.