With Pollution Levels At All Time High Delhi To Face The 'Dirtiest' Diwali In Three Years

Even as Delhi's air quality continues to worsen, a government agency has predicted that Diwali this year is likely to be significantly more polluted than the previous two years.

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On Friday, the air quality index bordered on "severe", the highest pollution level.The Central Pollution Control Board's AQI reading was 397 while the "severe" level begins from 400.

Worse may lie ahead. A super computer-generated prediction model run by SAFAR, under the earth sciences ministry, indicated that air quality would be in the "severe" zone on Diwali and the day after.

Things may change if wind speeds pick up. SAFAR said PM2.5 concentrations in the air on Diwali are likely to be around 322 micrograms per cubic metres if additional emissions from firecrackers are the same as the last three years.

The concentrations are likely to be lower, although still in the "severe" zone, if firecracker emissions were to reduce by about 50%.

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By contrast, the PM2.5 level was 217 micrograms per cubic metre on Diwali last year and 260 in 2014. " After the cyclonic storm in Bay of Bengal dissipated, winds became stagnant over the city . These became west-west-northerly and likely to become easterly during Diwali.This is likely to result in firecracker emissions remaining within the city ," said Gufran Beig, project director, SAFAR.

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Wind speeds remained low on Friday , ranging from zero to 2 metres per second, the DPCC website said. SAFAR said air quality would drop to its lowest level between 11pm and 3am on October 30 and 31. It said the capacity of the atmosphere to hold emissions from crackers had increased because of adequate moisture and stagnant winds.

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The share of PM2.5 in PM 10 may increase by up to 20%.PM2.5 is a component of PM10, usually their share is about 50% of PM10 emissions but during Diwali it may go up 70%. If wind speed increases in the next couple of days, it may improve air quality dramatically.

SAFAR also predicted that Noida was likely to experience the highest pollution followed by PUSA, Delhi University, Mathura road, Palam, Dhirpur, Aya Nagar and Lodhi Road.