Delhi Air Quality Index Tops 350 After Diwali Firecrackers
Smoke from festival fireworks mixed with seasonal haze to create severe pollution across the Indian capital.
By Marco Ortega ·
New Delhi has faced a recurring winter air crisis, but the current situation has reached a new threshold of severity.
A dense layer of smog covered the Indian capital on Monday following Diwali celebrations on Sunday evening. Residents launched firecrackers despite existing restrictions, releasing smoke and fine particulate matter into the atmosphere. The air quality index climbed above 350 in several districts by Monday morning. This level places the air in the severe category, posing direct health risks to the population.
Visibility dropped as a gray haze settled over streets and high-rise buildings. Monitoring stations across the city recorded similar high levels of pollution. The situation highlights the gap between regulatory intent and on-the-ground reality. India's Supreme Court issued an order in October to limit Diwali pollution. The ruling restricted conventional firecrackers and permitted only approved green firecrackers under specific conditions. Authorities allowed these emissions for three-hour windows on Saturday and Sunday. While these green crackers produce fewer emissions, they are not pollution-free. They still release particulate matter and other pollutants that contribute to the city's hazardous air.
Isyad, a resident of New Delhi who uses one name, reported physical discomfort from the worsening air. He described irritation in his throat and itching in his eyes caused by the pollution. The capital and its metropolitan region are home to more than 30 million people. The area regularly ranks among the most polluted in the world during winter. Conditions worsen when Diwali fireworks coincide with cooler weather. Smoke from crop-residue fires in neighboring Punjab and Haryana also drifts toward New Delhi. Farmers burn leftover rice stalks after harvest to clear fields for the next planting season. This smoke adds to pollution from vehicles, industries, and construction dust.
Late October and November present the worst conditions for air quality. Cooler temperatures, low wind speeds, and stagnant atmospheric conditions prevent pollutants from dispersing. The resulting haze often lingers over the capital and surrounding areas for days. Local authorities have implemented measures to curb pollution. These include limits on construction activity and restrictions on diesel generators. Courts have also sought restrictions on firecrackers. Despite these actions, severe pollution has returned each year.
Shweta Narayan, a public health expert at the Global Climate and Health Alliance, criticized the current response strategy. She described the government's actions as knee-jerk and temporary. She noted that many interventions occur only because the government is pressured or pushed into a corner to act. Environmentalists argue that long-term solutions are necessary. They point to cleaner energy and stricter controls on vehicle emissions as key requirements to prevent the annual crisis.
