Iconic Taj Mahal disappears behind a blanket of thick smog after Diwali

Diwali is a beautiful festival but what comes after is no less than a natural hazard. The day after the festival, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was reported “severe” in Delhi-NCR and several other destinations in western Uttar Pradesh. Given the pollution levels, one of the Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal in Agra has disappeared behind a blanket of thick smog!

The white beauty was barely visible, not even from a distance of 100 m. In Agra, the AQI was recorded as “severe” and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) monitored the AQI touching 419 at 10 AM and 432 at 2 PM on Friday.
Know the Air Quality Index

An AQI between:
0 and 50: Good
51 and 100: Satisfactory
101 and 200: Moderate
201 and 300: Poor
301 and 400: Very Poor
401 and 500: Severe

Last year, in 2020, Agra’s AQI was “very poor” at 347 after Diwali. The city has been suffering with pollution since the onset of November. The air quality on November 1 was 327, 300 on November 2, 289 on November 3, and 280 on November 4.

On November 6, just a day after Diwali, the AQI was recorded nearly 150 notches higher than the previous day. Heavy smog was noticed in the region and air quality was between 400 and 500 (severe) due to incessant bursting of firecrackers.

A number of people were seen bursting crackers, which caused immense pollution, even after the UP government’s firecrackers ban. The government had also urged people to use green crackers.