New Delhi: Delhi On Tuesday, saw its worst air quality since Diwali four years ago. The night before, pollution levels shot up, with PM2.5 levels reaching 675 micrograms per cubic meter, which made the city look like it was covered in a thick gray haze.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said that the national capital’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) on Diwali (Monday) was 345, which is considered “very poor.” This was an increase from 330 in 2024, 218 in 2023, and 312 in 2022, but it was still lower than the 382 AQI level after Diwali in 2021.
Hourly readings showed that pollution stayed high throughout night and into Tuesday morning. Between 7 a.m. and noon, AQI levels stayed above 350, which means that smog conditions were still bad across the NCR.
Health Risks and Toxic Air
The PM2.5 levels, which are tiny particles that can get deep into the lungs, were more than 12 times the recommended limit. This is very bad for kids, old people, and anyone with breathing problems.
Environmental specialists said the air quality was “severely hazardous,” and visibility dropped a lot in places like Anand Vihar, RK Puram, and Jahangirpuri.
Minister Stands Up for Crackers, Calls Rise “Marginal”
Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the Delhi Environment Minister, said that the pollution level after Diwali was “only marginal” even though the ban on green firecrackers was lifted.
Sirsa claimed, “Delhi’s AQI only went up 11 points, from 345 before Diwali to 356 the next morning.” He also said that “every religion has the right to celebrate its festivals” and that firecrackers are a “indispensable part” of Diwali celebrations.
He said that the sudden rise in pollution was caused by burning stubble in Punjab, which is run by the AAP, not by firecrackers.
Congress and AAP both slam BJP on Pollution Control
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) fought back by saying that the BJP government in Delhi didn’t do anything to stop the problem, like making fake rain or strictly enforcing the Supreme Court’s two-hour cracker ban (8 pm to 10 pm).
Saurabh Bharadwaj, the head of AAP’s Delhi branch, said that forbidden firecrackers were being used openly and asked if the BJP was “hand in glove with the firecracker lobby.”
“There was no AQI data on the night of Diwali.” Is the administration of Delhi hiding something? Bharadwaj asked.
The Congress also criticized both ruling parties, saying that the AQI was getting worse because of “years of administrative neglect.” They called for ongoing, non-political measures to fight pollution.
The BJP blames the burning of stubble in Punjab
At a press conference, Minister Ashish Sood said that shooting off fireworks after 10 p.m. was “irresponsible,” but he said it wasn’t the main cause of pollution.
Sirsa directly accused the AAP administration in Punjab, saying that a record amount of stubble was burned on Diwali night.
“AAP is using religion for political gain.” Sirsa said that Punjab’s stubble fires are the actual cause of Delhi’s hazardous haze, even though they criticize Hindus for enjoying Diwali.
Police Crack Down on Offenders
Delhi Police reported more than 100 incidents of people breaking the Supreme Court’s rules about using firecrackers and 50 cases of people selling them illegally during Diwali.
The Supreme Court said that green firecrackers could only be used for two hours on Diwali night, but many people broke the ban and kept bursting them late into the night.
CM Rekha Gupta defends the festival and says she will take action.
Rekha Gupta, the Chief Minister of Delhi, called this year’s Diwali “radiant and unique.” She thanked the Supreme Court for “balancing tradition with environmental concerns” by allowing the limited use of green firecrackers.
She said that her government was “serious about tackling pollution” and would take steps in the next few weeks to improve the quality of the air.
Sales of Firecrackers Go Up Despite Restrictions
The Sadar Bazar Association says that traders had a busy Diwali, with sales estimated at ₹500 crore, which is over 40% more than last year.
The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) got less emergency calls, though. On Diwali night, they got 269 calls, which is 15% fewer than the 318 calls they got last year, which was the most in 13 years.
But more than 250 individuals were burned, mostly because of accidents with fireworks. Safdarjung Hospital had the most instances, with 129. Other hospitals, both public and private, also treated patients.
Air in the capital is deadly again.
Environmental specialists said that Delhi’s current AQI values could cause serious breathing problems, especially in people who are already weak.
Pollution levels are likely to be high for a few days as winter approaches and wind speeds decline. This is unless strong northwesterly breezes blow the smog away.
Officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that help might not come until later in the week when it rains lightly.