As the night sky over Delhi lit up with fireworks marking Diwali celebrations, a dense blanket of smog descended upon the capital, pushing the city’s air quality into the “red zone.” According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 36 out of 38 monitoring stations across Delhi recorded air quality levels between “very poor” and “severe.”
Despite the Supreme Court’s directive limiting the use of green firecrackers to a two-hour window between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., residents continued bursting fireworks well past midnight. By 10 p.m., Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 344, with four monitoring stations Dwarka (417), Ashok Vihar (404), Wazirpur (423), and Anand Vihar (404) reporting severe levels exceeding 400.
Morning visuals from Tuesday showed a grey haze enveloping the skyline, with landmarks such as Akshardham Temple barely visible through the smog. The CPCB’s daily report noted that the city’s 24-hour average AQI reached 345, up from Sunday’s 326, marking a sharp deterioration.
Authorities classified the pollution spike as part of an annual trend worsened by festive fireworks, stubble burning, and seasonal weather patterns that trap pollutants near the surface. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR, triggering restrictions on construction activities, generator use, and vehicular emissions.
According to the Decision Support System (DSS), transport emissions accounted for 15.6% of Delhi’s pollution on Monday, while industrial activities contributed 23.3%. Experts warn that the air quality is likely to worsen in the coming days as calm winds and low temperatures prevent pollutant dispersion.
The CPCB categorizes AQI between 0–50 as good, 51–100 as satisfactory, 101–200 as moderate, 201–300 as poor, 301–400 as very poor, and 401–500 as severe. Delhi, with most stations in the last two brackets, is now facing another spell of hazardous smog typical of post-Diwali mornings.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) have forecast further deterioration through Tuesday and Wednesday, warning residents to avoid outdoor activity and use protective masks.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had permitted the sale and use of green firecrackers only during specific time slots between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., and again from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Diwali eve and the day of the festival but enforcement proved difficult amid widespread violations.
With Delhi once again gasping under the weight of its own celebrations, environmental experts urge authorities to implement stricter monitoring and public awareness campaigns to curb this recurring crisis. The festival of lights, they say, has once more turned into a night of toxic smoke a grim reminder of the city’s ongoing battle with air pollution.
