New Delhi Air Quality Index tops 350 after Diwali fireworks

The Air Quality Index in New Delhi surpassed 350 on Monday morning, placing the capital in the severe pollution category following the Diwali festival. Monitoring stations across the city recorded these high levels as a gray haze reduced visibility over streets and high-rise buildings.

Residents lit firecrackers on Sunday evening despite government restrictions. The explosions released smoke and fine particulate matter into the atmosphere. This addition worsened an already hazardous air quality situation that typically affects the city every winter.

The Supreme Court of India issued an order in October to limit emissions from the festival. The ruling allowed only specific green firecrackers during three-hour windows on Saturday and Sunday. These approved products produce fewer emissions than conventional crackers but still release pollutants into the air.

Isyad, a resident of New Delhi, reported physical symptoms resulting from the smog. He cited throat irritation and eye itching as immediate health impacts from the deteriorating air quality.

The metropolitan region, which houses more than 30 million people, ranks among the most polluted areas in the world during this season. The crisis intensifies when local emissions combine with smoke from crop-residue fires in the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana. Farmers burn rice stalks after harvest to prepare fields for the next planting cycle.

Cooler temperatures and low wind speeds in late October and November prevent pollutants from dispersing. This stagnant atmosphere allows haze to linger for days. Local sources include vehicle exhaust, industrial output, and construction dust.

Authorities have implemented measures to curb pollution, including limits on construction activity and restrictions on diesel generators. Courts have also sought to control firecracker use. Shweta Narayan, a public health expert at the Global Climate and Health Alliance, described these government responses as knee-jerk and temporary. She noted that many interventions occur only when the government is pressured to act.