India's capital Delhi woke up to a toxic haze as air quality worsened after the Hindu festival of Diwali, despite a court directive to use less-polluting crackers.
People in the city and its suburbs burst crackers late into Monday night, defying the court's order to use only 'green' fireworks for a limited period of time.
Delhi, which has high pollution levels throughout the year due to factors including vehicular emissions and dust, had already seen air quality dipping over the past few days.
On Tuesday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was 360, according to government data. The AQI measures the level of PM 2.5 - fine particulate matter that can clog lungs and cause a host of diseases - in the air.
Levels between 101 and 200 are considered moderate, while those between 201 and 300 are 'poor.' Between 301 and 400 is categorized as 'very poor,' and a figure higher than 400 is considered 'severe.'
The World Health Organization's guidelines state that exposure to PM 2.5 over a 24-hour period should be limited to 15 micrograms per cubic meter - yet Delhi's AQI in some areas is 24 times higher than this recommended level.
The city's pollution problem worsens in winter as farmers in neighboring states burn crop stubble. Low wind speeds trap pollutants - such as those produced by firecrackers - in the lower atmosphere, making it hard to breathe.
This is why firecrackers had been banned in Delhi and its suburbs during Diwali since 2020. However, enforcement of this rule has been lax, and traditional crackers were still available for purchase in many shops, leading to widespread use during the festival.
Last week, India's Supreme Court relaxed the blanket ban, permitting the use of so-called green crackers, which manufacturers claim emit 20-30% less pollutants than traditional ones. However, critics argue that these crackers still release harmful substances into the air.
In the days leading to Diwali, BBC reporters noted that traditional crackers were openly sold in shops. Although the court allowed green crackers to be used only during a limited window - one hour in the morning and two in the evening on Diwali and the day before - the sounds of fireworks were heard long past midnight in many areas.
On Tuesday, as BBC reporter Vikas Pandey left his home in Noida (a suburb of Delhi) around 0600 local time, he was struck by 'the familiar smell of burning charcoal.' Visibility was poor, and there was a taste of ash in his mouth. As his taxi entered Delhi, visibility deteriorated further, with tall buildings obscured by thick smog.
Experts are concerned that relaxing rules around firecrackers could jeopardize growing awareness of air pollution dangers developed over recent years.
To be clear, Delhi's air quality was already deemed 'very poor,' with AQI levels exceeding 300 for the previous week due to factors such as low wind speed, vehicular emissions, and stubble burning.
Following pollution levels, officials invoked the next stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi and its suburbs, imposing restrictions on diesel generators and the burning of coal and firewood to improve air quality.
As smog settles over Delhi, its residents express resignation. 'You can't even think of stepping outside. The situation seems equally dire in densely populated and rural areas in Delhi today,' said Paras Tyagi, a resident of the capital.
