Delhi's Becomes World's Most Polluted City For The Second Time This Week | Check Other Indian Cities Here

India and its neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh are grappling with toxic air quality. For the second time this week, the real-time air quality of India's national capital peaked on Thursday, marking Delhi as the world's most polluted city, a title which was held by Pakistan's second-largest city Lahore earlier. As per Swiss IQAir quality, the live tracking on November 9, showed Delhi on top of the list with a massive AQI of 504, indicating hazardous air quality. Poor air quality could also lead to be fatal and costly.

Data from Swiss IQAir, on November 9, at the time of writing, Delhi is the world's most polluted city with an AQI of 504 which signals an alarming hazardous quality. The city is followed by Lahore with an AQI of 428, after holding the title of most polluted city in the world last year. In the top 5 list, two cities each from Pakistan and India are dominating the chart, while neighbouring country Bangladesh is also joining them.

Kolkata surpasses Karachi to become the third most polluted city in the world with an AQI of 239, signalling a very unhealthy air quality. Karachi held the fourth spot with an AQI of 199, while Bangladesh's Dhaka city is with 199 AQI. Together, with Delhi and Lahore, these are top 5 most polluted cities in the world.

India's financial hub, Mumbai which moved between 12th to 13th rank yesterday with an AQI below 100, has now climbed into the top 10 most polluted cities list. The city of dreams is currently at 8th spot with an AQI of 152, which hints at unhealthy air quality.

Swiss IQAir data further highlighted the impact of this intense air pollution in the three cities of India.

Delhi: Particle pollution from fine particulates (PM2.5) concentration in New Delhi is currently 85.6 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value. SwissIQ reveals that air pollution in Delhi has caused an estimated 24,000 deaths so far in 2023, while it is likely to cost approximately 3.5 billion dollars. In the next few days, the air quality is predicted to be hazardous to unhealthy.

As per New York State Health Department website, PM 2.5 is a concern when levels in air are unhealthy. Breathing in unhealthy levels of PM2.5 can increase the risk of health problems like heart disease, asthma, and low birth weight. Unhealthy levels can also reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy.

Kolkata: Although holding the second most polluted city title in India and third in the world, the death toll in Kolkata is far lower than compared to both Mumbai and Delhi with air quality being the cause of it. As per the data, 15,000 deaths are estimated due to unhealthy air quality in Kolkata, and the pollution is seen to approximately cost $2.2 billion this year. PM2.5 concentration in Kolkata is currently 30.6 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value. The air quality is expected to stay unhealthy in the coming days as well.

Mumbai: Entering in the top 10 list, Mumbai's air pollution is likely to cost an estimated 21,000 deaths so far in 2023, while in value terms the cost would be around $3.1 billion. PM2.5 concentration in Mumbai is currently 11.4 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value. In the coming days, Mumbai's air quality is likely to be unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Earlier on November 5, Delhi made it to the number one slot with an AQI of 705, pushing down Lahore to the second lot with an AQI of 328. Kolkata also figured in the list at the number 4 slot.

However, in the current week, Delhi and Kolkata have stayed on first and third spot for the second consecutive day now.

To tame the intensifying air quality, especially after Delhi stepped into the hazardous zone, the Supreme Court has passed several orders, banning the sale and manufacture of fireworks for all states ahead of the Diwali festival.

It is no mystery that the usage of firecrackers is at its peak during the five-day Diwali festival season. This year, the Diwali festival will commence on November 10th with Dhanteras and will end on November 14. The auspicious occasion of Laxmi Pujan will be held on November 12. In India, way before and after the Diwali festival, citizens have the habit of bursting crackers for several days.

According to Bar and Bench, on November 7th, a bench of Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh stated that all States should take measures to combat pollution not only during festive seasons but thereafter as well.

The bench observed that SC in the course of dealing with the petition, has passed several orders where the steps have been indicated to minimize and avoid air as well as noise pollution. Hence, the bench directed that SC's orders would bind every State in this country including the State of Rajasthan. Therefore, we make it clear that the State of Rajasthan also would take note of this and take all steps to minimize the air/noise pollution not only during the festival season but even thereafter.

The bench's decision comes after the court received applications where it was believed that orders regarding firecrackers were limited to Delhi. The apex court also received an application where it sought measures for controlling air pollution in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

Although bursting firecrackers during Diwali has been an ancient tradition, in recent times, the practice has been up for debate. Many have questioned whether bursting firecrackers are an integral part of the festival or not!