Air quality will remain hazardous in New Delhi on Friday, 9 November, as the smoke from Diwali fireworks will continued to engulf the city through Thursday, according to AQICN. People in the national capital woke up to a thick haze engulfing the city as air quality index (AQI) plummeted to hazardous levels making breathing itself a threat to life.

At one point on Thursday, AQI level in some parts of the national capital was at an alarming 999, the highest possible level in the index. The situation, according to weather forecasters, will remain unchanged for the day.

AQICN says there will hardly be any change in the PM2.5 concentration in the city on Friday, meaning that the air quality will remain severe and visibility poor.

In fact, PM2.5 level from 9 am to 8 pm on Friday could be as hazardous as it is today in many places in of east Delhi. Thus the overall AQI in New Delhi is likely to remain severe.

Read More: Morning after Diwali, Delhi AQI ‘hazardous’, touches maximum levels

At 12 noon on Thursday, AQI at Mother Dairy Plant, Parparganj, was at hazardous 414. It was 516 at ITI Shahdra and 484 at Anand Vihar. At DIT, Okhla, the AQI was 722. All the areas are in the eastern part of Delhi.

In parts of western Delhi, however, the AQI was at a ‘very unhealthy’ 228-242.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the AQI in Delhi will be above 400 with PM2.5 between 290 and 340 on 9 November. The AQI will come down to around 350 on 10 November but will still remain in the ‘very poor’ category.

“AQI entered severe category at 2 am after midnight on 8 November and will continue to remain severe through the evening,” SAFAR said, adding that “contribution of stubble fires appears to be marginal so far”.

Skymet weather predicted that there will be no respite for the people of Delhi from the haze and the poor air quality for the next 24-48 hours. The smog, too, will continue to engulf the region, especially in the eastern part, due to prevailing light and calm northwesterly winds.

The maximum temperature in Delhi on 9 November will be around 30 degrees Celsius. Hazy sunshine is predicted and wind speeds could be around 8 km per hour.

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall AQI was recorded at 302 at 11 pm in Delhi on Diwali night as people flouted the Supreme Court order and continued to burst crackers well beyond the deadline time of 10 pm.

The police reportedly admitted to the violations adding that serious legal action will be taken against violators. According to the court’s order, the police was tasked with ensuring that no banned firecrackers are sold. The cops were instructed that station house officer (SHO) of the police station concerned would be held personally liable in case of violation.