A day after Diwali celebrations, Delhi woke up to a dense blanket of grey haze and stifling air, as pollution levels soared across the city. Despite a Supreme Court ban on bursting firecrackers beyond the permitted two-hour window, the capital’s skies remained clouded with smoke and particulate matter on Tuesday morning.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) touched 352 at 8 am, placing it firmly in the ‘very poor’ category. It was 346 at 5 am, 347 at 6 am and 351 at 7 am. The city’s 24-hour average AQI on Monday stood at 345, also in the ‘very poor’ range.
An AQI between 0–50 is considered ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’, and 401–500 ‘severe’.
Out of 38 monitoring stations across the national capital, 36 recorded air quality in the ‘red zone’, reflecting pollution levels ranging from ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’. The CPCB’s SAMEER app, which provides real-time AQI data from monitoring stations, was not updated on Tuesday morning.
Although the Supreme Court had permitted the use of green firecrackers only between 8 pm and 10 pm on Diwali night, reports from several areas indicated widespread violations. Crackers continued to burst well past midnight, with AQI readings of 349 at 12 am and 348 at 1 am, signaling a sharp spike in pollution levels.
Environmental experts warn that stagnant weather conditions and post-Diwali emissions are likely to push Delhi’s air quality deeper into the ‘severe’ zone over the next two days. The situation could worsen further as the winter smog season sets in, trapping pollutants close to the ground.
Authorities have urged residents to avoid outdoor physical activity, use masks, and stay indoors when possible. Meanwhile, environmental groups have renewed calls for stricter enforcement of the cracker ban and sustainable festive practices to prevent annual post-Diwali pollution spikes.
