New Delhi: Many big cities of the country are facing the brunt of pollution since Diwali. On Saturday, the average air quality index (AQI) of Amritsar once again crossed 350 and with this Amritsar remained the most polluted city of the country on Saturday. Due to Diwali fireworks, three cities of NCR including Delhi were included in the ten most polluted cities of the country.

Haryana's Jind is at third place among the most polluted cities in the country

The average air quality index (AQI) in Amritsar was recorded at 364, while in Ludhiana it was 339. Jind in Haryana was at the third place among the polluted cities of the country where the average AQI was recorded at 337. The maximum AQI in Amritsar on Saturday reached 605 at 11 am. The maximum AQI in Ludhiana and Jalandhar was also 500.

Increase in incidents of stubble burning

The 24-hour average AQI in Delhi was recorded at 316 at 4 pm on Saturday, which is more than 290 in the morning. In Anand Vihar, it reached above 400. The main reason for the increase in AQI is the celebration of Diwali for two days on Thursday and Friday and the sudden increase in incidents of stubble burning under the guise of Diwali.

Let us tell you that 484 cases of stubble burning were reported in the state on Thursday and 587 on Friday and on Saturday stubble was burnt at 379 places. The total number of stubble burning cases in the state has reached 3,916. In this way, a 37 percent increase has been recorded in the incidents of stubble burning in three days.

Due to smog and low visibility, three planes could not land at Sri Guru Ramdas International Airport in Amritsar on Saturday. So they were diverted to Chandigarh Airport. First of all, the plane coming to Amritsar from Dubai at 7:45 am was diverted to Chandigarh. Similarly, the planes that arrived in Amritsar from Mumbai at 7.55 am and from Ahmedabad at 11.15 am were also sent to Chandigarh.

51 cities had good air quality before Diwali

There are more cities in Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Before Diwali, the air quality was good in 51 cities. After Diwali, the air quality was good only in 26 cities. The number of cities with very poor air index increased from eight to 50. Pollution was more in densely populated cities.

Situation is bad in Delhi

After improvement in the capital Delhi on Saturday, the air index started increasing and at 4 pm, Delhi's air index reached 316, which is 23 points less than the previous day. But at 8 pm, Delhi's air index reached 350. At 8 pm, the air index in Anand Vihar and Sonia Vihar was 411 and 402 respectively.

Air quality turns 'very poor' in some areas of Himachal Pradesh

The air quality deteriorated at various places in Himachal Pradesh due to bursting of firecrackers after Diwali. The average AQI in the state this year stood at 140 (moderate) compared to 92 last year. According to pollution department data, the air quality in industrial areas of the state was recorded between moderate to very poor and Baddi (industrial area) was the most polluted with a "very poor" AQI of 392, followed by Parwanoo at 217, Paonta Sahib at 145, Barotiwala at 139, Nalagarh at 128 and Una at 122.