Delhi has its worst Diwali-eve air pollution in 10 years
The pollution board rated Saturday's index of 362 "very poor." Air is forecast to turn "severe" on Sunday as fireworks add to the pollution.
Smog and poor visibility covered Delhi on Sunday, Nov. 8, after the capital's worst Diwali-eve air in 10 years. India's Central Pollution Control Board rated the capital's air quality index on Saturday at 362, which is "very poor." The worst earlier pre-Diwali day was in 2016, with a reading of 404.
Air quality is forecast to turn "severe" on Sunday, when Diwali celebrations add to the pollution. The Swiss monitor IQAir ranked Delhi the world's worst polluted major city on Saturday. Vehicle emissions and stubble burning in neighboring Punjab and Haryana are major contributors, and fireworks add to them.
The government ordered schools in and around Delhi to hold classes online and encouraged people to work from home. Al Jazeera English reports the air turned hazardous days before the festival. In an AP guide, experts advise checking the air quality index, wearing a well-fitted N95 or N99 mask, using HEPA purifiers indoors and avoiding firecrackers.
Public health expert Shweta Narayan calls for sustained action on pollution sources. India's Supreme Court is reviewing how Delhi handles air pollution.
- 362Delhi's air quality index on Saturday, rated "very poor" by the pollution boardDeutsche Welle
- 404worst previous pre-Diwali AQI, on October 29, 2016Deutsche Welle
- about 19 times the World Health Organization’s annual guidelineDelhi's fine particle pollution average last yearABC News
- 1 billionpeople estimated to celebrate Diwali worldwideABC News
Three sides of the story
6 news outlets reported this · Little coverage from conservative outlets
Tap a color or swipe sideways to switch sides.
Liberal4 outlets
Protecting yourself as Diwali meets toxic air
ABC News runs an AP guide headlined "Diwali celebrations coincide with worsening air. Here’s how to stay safer." It opens with hazardous winter air returning across South Asia just as Diwali begins.
It then gives practical steps: check the air quality index, fit an N95 or N99 mask, pick a purifier suited to the room and avoid firecrackers. Its main voices are Shweta Narayan of the Global Climate and Health Alliance, who says poor air is "our all-year-round problem," and Dr. Arvind Kumar, a chest surgeon. The piece closes on the limits of personal precautions.
Narayan calls it "our responsibility to hold our governments accountable." Al Jazeera English reports that New Delhi's air became dangerous in the days before Diwali, when celebrations often include fireworks.
Center2 outlets
Delhi's worst Diwali-eve air in a decade
Deutsche Welle leads its India roundup with the capital, headlined "Delhi chokes on most polluted Diwali eve in 10 years." It cites the Central Pollution Control Board's index of 362, compares it with 404 in 2016 and notes the forecast of "severe" air on Sunday. It adds IQAir's ranking of Delhi as the world's worst polluted major city, names vehicle emissions and stubble burning as major sources and reports the online-classes order.
The same roundup covers the Supreme Court review of Delhi's approach and other India news. The Seattle Times runs the AP guide on staying safer, the same wire text carried by ABC News. It shows how to check the air, fit a mask and choose a purifier, with Kumar and Narayan as voices.
- Deutsche Welle: India: Delhi chokes on most polluted Diwali eve in 10 years
- The Seattle Times: Diwali celebrations coincide with worsening air. Here’s how to stay safer
Conservative0 outlets
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For people in Delhi, the government has ordered schools in and around the city to hold online classes and encouraged working from home. In the AP guide, Dr. Arvind Kumar recommends properly fitted N95 or N99 masks outdoors in heavy pollution and says people should avoid strenuous outdoor exercise. The guide also says many families cannot afford air purifiers.
All sources: 10 articles from 6 outlets
Liberal (6)
- ABC News: New Delhi wakes to toxic smog after Diwali firecrackers
- ABC News: Diwali celebrations coincide with worsening air. Here’s how to stay safer
- Al Jazeera English: Smog blankets New Delhi as Diwali firecrackers worsen air quality
- Al Jazeera English: Air turns hazardous in New Delhi days before Diwali
- NPR: Thick smog shrouds New Delhi after Diwali firecrackers add to seasonal pollution
- The Boston Globe: New Delhi wakes to toxic smog after Diwali as firecrackers add to seasonal pollution crisis
Center (4)
- Deutsche Welle: India news: Delhi air quality level 'severe' after Diwali
- Deutsche Welle: India: Delhi chokes on most polluted Diwali eve in 10 years
- The Seattle Times: New Delhi wakes to toxic smog after Diwali as firecrackers add to seasonal pollution crisis
- The Seattle Times: Diwali celebrations coincide with worsening air. Here’s how to stay safer
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