Delhi Air Quality Remains Very Poor Post-Diwali with Severe Pollution in 15 Areas

A thick layer of smog continued to blanket Delhi on the morning following Diwali, as the city’s air quality remained in the 'very poor' category. At 7 am on Monday, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) for Delhi registered at 368, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) identified as the major pollutant, according to real-time data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Data from 54 monitoring stations across the capital showed a concerning picture. Every station reported AQI values above 200, and 50 of those locations recorded levels exceeding 300. Notably, 15 areas fell into the 'severe' pollution category, where AQI readings surpassed 400. Burari Crossing and Sonia Vihar topped the list with AQI scores of 441 each. Other hotspots included Vivek Vihar at 437, Delhi Technological University at 434, and both North Campus of Delhi University and Jahangirpuri at 433. Rohini and Bawana reported AQIs of 430 and 424 respectively.

The CPCB classifies AQI values between 301 and 400 as 'very poor,' while readings from 401 to 500 are considered 'severe.' These elevated pollution levels have raised health concerns among residents and authorities alike.

Particularly alarming was the surge in PM2.5 concentrations. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) noted that at 11 pm on Sunday, PM2.5 levels near Akshardham soared to 760.99 micrograms per cubic metre. This figure is more than 50 times the World Health Organization’s recommended 24-hour exposure limit of 15 micrograms per cubic metre. Although this measurement represents an hourly peak rather than a daily average, it clearly underscores the intensity of the pollution spike.

This sharp rise in pollution followed Diwali celebrations, during which many residents lit firecrackers beyond the 10 pm deadline set by the Supreme Court. The court had allowed the use of certified green crackers only within two limited time frames: 6 am to 7 am and 8 pm to 10 pm on November 7 and 8. Despite these restrictions, reports from various neighbourhoods indicated that firecrackers continued to be ignited outside the permitted intervals. Conventional firecrackers were also used in some parts of the city, contributing further to the worsening air quality.

The pollution problem was not confined to Delhi alone. Across the National Capital Region (NCR), pollution levels remained high. Bahadurgarh recorded the highest AQI among neighbouring cities at 389. Other areas reported elevated figures including Noida at 340, Faridabad 334, Gurugram 316, Manesar 338, Ghaziabad 366, and Greater Noida 293. Bhiwadi also reached an AQI of 300.

Looking at the national scenario, Khora in Uttar Pradesh had the highest AQI among 288 cities reporting valid data at 7 am, registering 400. Mandi Gobindgarh in Punjab and Bahadurgarh in Haryana followed with 389 each. Other cities with poor air quality included Rohtak (379), Bhiwani (377), and Khairthal in Rajasthan (376). Delhi’s AQI of 368 placed it among the more polluted urban centers in the country.

On the other hand, some locations experienced much cleaner air. Aizawl in Mizoram recorded the lowest AQI at 19, while Madikeri in Karnataka had 39. Brajrajnagar in Odisha and Chamarajanagar and Vijayapura in Karnataka reported AQIs between 50 and 51, categorizing them as having 'good' or 'satisfactory' air quality.

Delhi and the surrounding NCR are currently under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap), activated by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on November 6 after pollution levels climbed into the 'severe' range. This stage enforces bans on non-essential construction and demolition work, limits on certain diesel vehicles, and tighter controls on industrial emissions. These measures build on earlier Grap stages, which include enhanced street cleaning, water sprinkling, dust suppression, increased parking fees, and efforts to boost public transport use.

Additional winter pollution controls began on November 1, including restrictions on non-BS-VI vehicles registered outside Delhi, and strict enforcement of the 'No Pollution Under Control (PUC), No Fuel' policy. Despite these steps, weather conditions such as low wind speeds and poor air circulation are expected to keep pollution levels high for several days.

Experts warn that exposure to very poor air quality can trigger respiratory problems. When pollution reaches the severe category, it poses health risks even for healthy individuals and can severely impact those with existing respiratory or cardiovascular diseases.