The air quality index (AQI) was recorded in “severe category” at many places in Haryana on Friday as the ban on the sale or use of firecrackers in 14 NCR districts went for a toss on Diwali this year.

The residents woke up to a thick layer of smog in NCR districts including Gurugram, Faridabad, Jind, Panipat, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri among others. 

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Jind recorded the worst air quality index which was 498 at 5 pm. Many major cities recorded the worst AQI in the morning as well as in the evening a day after the Diwali night.

At many places, the AQI was in the “very poor” category on November 4 but deteriorated to “severe category” on November 5. AQI recorded by CPCB at 4 pm (average of past 24 hours) was 472 in Gurugram, 469 in Faridabad, 462 in Jind, 437 in Bhiwani, 437 in Rohtak, 424 in Charkhi Dadri, 405 in Hisar, 413 in Panipat, 400 in Sonipat.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor and 401-500 severe.

A ‘very poor’ AQI essentially means that people may suffer from respiratory illnesses on prolonged exposure to such air. If the air quality dips further, the AQI turns ‘severe’, which may trouble even those with sound health conditions and seriously affect those with ailment.

Among other parts of the state, the 24 hours average AQI at 4 pm was 377 in Kaithal, 329 in Karnal and 314 in Palwal.  Panchkula recorded the AQI of 161 in the moderate category.

Apart from cracker bursting, low temperatures and stubble burning in the agrarian states of Punjab and Haryana are among the causes of deterioration in air quality across the region around this time of the year. 

Notably, Haryana Government had on October 31 imposed a complete ban against sale or use of all kinds of firecrackers in all the 14 NCR districts namely Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Faridabad, Gurugram, Jhajjar, Jind, Karnal, Mahendergarh, Nuh, Palwal, Panipat, Rewari, Rohtak and Sonipat.

Apart from this, only green crackers were allowed to be sold in cities and towns where the air quality was in the moderate or below category and the bursting of crackers was permitted only from 8 pm to 10 pm.

However, cracker bursting continued till late Diwali night as well on Friday in various districts in the state.