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 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 categorised 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 metre - but Delhi's AQI in some parts is 24 times higher than the recommended level.
The city's pollution problem worsens in winter as farmers in neighbouring states burn crop stubble. Low wind speeds also trap pollutants - such as those produced by firecrackers - in the lower atmosphere, making it hard to breathe.
Firecrackers had been banned in Delhi and its suburbs during Diwali since 2020, but this rule was not strictly enforced, and crackers were still available for purchase in many shops, leading to their use during the festival.
Last week, India's Supreme Court relaxed the blanket ban, allowing the use of so-called green crackers, which their makers claim emit 20-30% less pollutants than traditional ones and generate minimal ash. Critics have, however, pointed out that even though these crackers are comparatively less harmful, they still release toxic substances into the air.
In the run-up to Diwali, reports indicated that traditional crackers continued to be sold openly. While the court allowed the use of green crackers only during a limited window - one hour in the morning and two in the evening on Diwali and the day before it - the sounds of fireworks echoed long past midnight in many areas.
On Tuesday, when a BBC reporter left his home in Noida, he noted the return of the familiar smell of burning charcoal. “The air was filled with smoke and visibility was poor. I could taste ash in my mouth,” he reported.
Experts are worried that relaxing rules around firecracker usage could undermine the awareness of the dangers of air pollution, which had been building over the past few years.
To clarify, Delhi's air quality was already in the very poor category, with AQI crossing 300 for about a week due to several factors such as low wind speeds, vehicular emissions, and stubble burning.
On Sunday, officials invoked the next stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi and its suburbs, imposing restrictions on the use of diesel generators and burning of coal and firewood to improve air quality.
As the familiar smog descends on Delhi, residents seem resigned. “You can't even think of stepping outside. The situation seems to be equally bad in densely populated areas and rural areas in Delhi today,” remarked a local resident.
