Pollution level to peak during Diwali

The pollution level in the national capital is likely to peak on Diwali and remain the same the next day, according to weather analysts.

The pollution level will start increasing from Nov 2 with over 700 percent rise in the suspended particulate matter (PM 2.5) compared to the permissible limit.

The prediction is based on the analysis by the System of Air Pollution Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) set up by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune.

"Although this level is the lowest among the past three years during Diwali period, it is also surpassing the critical (or very unhealthy level) limit," said Gufran Beig, project director of SAFAR.

Beig said, this level is warning of emergency conditions according to the human health advisories of World Health Organisation (WHO).

"People may experience more or serious health effects," he said.

SAFAR system also monitors complete spectrum of air pollutants at eight different locations in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The least polluted region during Diwali is expected to be Lodhi Road, Aaya Nagar and Burari as compared to Pusa Road in central Delhi and Noida, where it will be the highest.

The critical level is mainly interpreted due to wind flowing from neighbouring regions and dense residential and high rise buildings where pollution cannot diffuse.

The Ozone level is likely to be within permissible limit.