Updated: November 15, 2020 9:45:26 pm
In a much-needed respite from a surge in air pollution after Diwali, Delhi and nearby areas witnessed sporadic heavy rains that are likely to bring some relief. India’s Meteorological Department (IMD) had previously said that light rains are expected in the national capital region.
Isolated to scattered rains under the influence of a new western disturbance are also expected on November 15. These factors will help enormously to eliminate the impact of any additional locally generated emissions and biomass related impacts to make the AQI at the low end of very poor by November 16, ”SAFAR’s official forecast said today.
The higher wind speeds helped the dispersion of pollutants. The maximum wind speed was around 25 km per hour, IMD officials told PTI. An official with the Delhi Fire Service said they received 57 rain-related calls for help.
“Shortly after the rains stopped, we received a total of 57 calls for assistance. Due to the rains, dust and other materials accumulated on the roads, causing slippery conditions, said Atul Garg, Director of the Delhi Fire Service.
#CLOCK Delhi: parts of the national capital receive rain. Pictures of Dwarka. pic.twitter.com/lrjFJ6fcFG
– ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2020
Air quality in the national capital deteriorated to the “severe” category one day after Diwali on Sunday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the ITO and Anand Vihar area recorded as 461 and 478 respectively, according to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). ) data. The neighboring cities of Faridabad (438), Ghaziabad (483), Greater Noida (439), Gurgaon (424) and Noida (466) also recorded their AQI in the severe category.
Smog engulfs the India Gate as air pollution continues to rise in New Delhi. (Express photo: Praveen Khanna)
A thick layer of smog engulfed several areas of Delhi in the morning, reducing visibility. But some relief is likely as the wind direction is expected to shift to the southeast, reducing the impact of agricultural fires on Delhi’s air.
#CLOCK | Delhi receives a light rain.
Images by Vijay Chowk pic.twitter.com/jXV5YcQb54
– ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2020
With many Delhiites ignoring the city’s crackers ban, on Saturday night the AQI recorded as 414, the worst AQI in the city since 2016 on Diwali. On Friday, it dropped to 339, in the ‘very poor’ category.
The city posted a 24-hour average AQI of 337 on Diwali last year (October 27), and 368 and 400 on the next two days. Thereafter, the contamination levels remained in the “severe” category for three days in a row.
The proportion of stubble burning in PM 2.5 also increased from 14 percent on Friday to 32 percent on Saturday due to transport-level northwesterly winds with adequate speed, SAFAR said.
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