As northern India’s Delhi prepares for Diwali celebrations, rising pollution levels have raised alarms, with toxic foam visible on the Yamuna River and the Air Quality Index plunging into the ‘Poor’ and ‘Very Poor’ categories.

The incident took place at Yamuna River in Kalindi Kunj area of Delhi on October 18.

Visuals showed Yamuna River, instead of flowing with water, was covered entirely in thick, white toxic foam. The foam spread across the entire surface of the river, creating a blanket of pollution that stretched as far as the eye could see. In large quantities, the foam swirled in the currents, making the river look almost surreal, as if it had been replaced by a frothy, white sea of chemicals. The sight was overwhelming, with no clear water visible, just an endless expanse of foam signaling severe pollution.

According to reports, the situation worsened in specific areas, with Anand Vihar recording an AQI of 339, placing it in the ‘Very Poor’ category. India Gate and surrounding areas logged an AQI of 270, also marked as ‘Poor,’ while Dwarka, Sector-8 recorded 325, and Vivek Vihar reached 324, both categorized as ‘Very Poor.’

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, claiming that the party is failing to address the pollution crisis and merely engaging in a blame game.

The Central Pollution Control Board has noted that an AQI in the ‘Poor’ category can cause breathing discomfort with prolonged exposure, while levels in the ‘Very Poor’ category can lead to respiratory illnesses. As Diwali, the festival of lights, approaches on October 31, 2024, these pollution levels pose a significant health risk for residents.

In response to the deteriorating air quality, the Delhi Government has announced the strict implementation of measures under the Graded Response Action Plan-1 (GRAP-1) to combat pollution in the national capital.