Delhi news live: Overall air quality dips to 'very poor' category ahead of Diwali

Delhi's air quality dropped to the 'very poor' category on Wednesday, and according to SAFAR, it is only going to worsen in the next few days. Photos

A live band performs in the background and the open kitchen is abuzz with activity as Kamala, Tara and Rajni busily deliver on orders for muffins, coffee, bread rolls, pakoras — and the all-time favourite: Maggie noodles with a touch of masalas and vegetables. It could be any other bustling cafe until one realises that the women behind the counter, serving, cooking and assisting in the kitchen are all visually impaired. READ MORE

For the second day in a row, the district on Tuesday emerged as the most polluted city in the country. Ghaziabad recorded a slightly better AQI of 334 on Tuesday compared to 363 on Monday but Tuesday's AQI also made it the most polluted city in India for the fourth time this season. READ MORE

Diwali will be a gala day for inmates of three jail complexes. Last year, the Covid-19 pandemic put paid to any celebrations among the prisoners, but this year around the 18,000 inmates of the jails at Tihar, Mandoli and Rohini can have a celebratory day. READ MORE

Environment minister Gopal Rai said Delhi Police and all SDMs will keep a close watch on the purchase and sale of firecrackers and its use on the occasion of Diwali in the capital. He said Delhi Police and SDMs have been instructed to observe a 24-hour vigil to prevent pollution caused by firecrackers, with special attention to the border area of Delhi. He added that so far, 12,957 kg of crackers have been seized by police and 32 people have been booked under the anti-cracker campaign. READ MORE

The free pilgrimage service for senior citizens under Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojana, which has been on hold since the outbreak of the pandemic, is likely to resume from November 15. Now, people will even be able to enjoy a government-funded trip to Ayodhya. READ MORE

Hospitals and primary health centres across Gurgaon are under instructions to stay alert during Diwali on November 4 and treat burn cases on a priority basis, said the health department on Tuesday. Sub-divisional hospitals have made a roster for doctors at the burn ward to ensure patients receive treatment throughout Diwali night, the department added. READ MORE

Two bike-borne snatchers were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly targeting a security guard near Ambience Mall. READ MORE

NEW DELHI: A chargesheet has been filed by police against high-profile conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, his girlfriend Leena Maria Paul and 11 others for extorting Rs 200 crore from a business family. READ MORE

The air quality in the city is expected to remain at the higher end of the ‘very poor’ category even in a zero-firecracker scenario on November 4 (Diwali) and November 5, predicts System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the forecasting body of the Union earth sciences ministry. However, the air is likely to slide to the ‘severe’ category even with just 50% of the firecracker emissions of 2019. READ MORE

Delhi Police has seized 700 kilograms of firecrackers and arrested around 10 people from different parts of the city this week so far. In North Delhi’s Sadar Bazar area, seven people were arrested with around 80kg crackers. READ MORE

Dariba Kalan, Old Delhi’s historic jewellery market, witnessed a rise in footfall this Dhanteras compared with the empty streets seen last year, but jewellers say sales were a meagre 30% of the pre-Covid days. READ MORE

Petrol costs Rs 110.04 per litre and diesel Rs 98.42

As dengue cases continue to rise in the national capital, municipal corporations are dealing with the worst dengue outbreak in the past three years. READ MORE

Security arrangement has been beefed up in the national capital in view of Diwali, senior police officers said on Tuesday. Police presence in markets and other crowded areas has been increased and extra forces are helping in patrolling. CCTV footage of markets and residential areas is being constantly monitored, police said.

Some are taking orders on WhatsApp and delivering them at the doorstep. Some have them stashed among diyas and Diwali decor on sale at stalls, to be revealed only to “trusted” customers. READ MORE

Delhi's air quality deteriorated as it entered the "very poor" category for the first time this season. The overall air quality index (AQI) of the city was 303 on Tuesday as against 281 in the "poor" category on Monday. Experts said the contribution of stubble burning to Delhi's PM2.5 was less due to wind direction, but meteorological factors and local sources of pollution affected the air quality. READ MORE

Delhi reported 34 fresh cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, pushing the tally at 14,39,922, according to the latest bulletin issued by the Delhi health department. However, no Covid fatality has been recorded in the city in the last eleven days.