Tue Oct 21 08:05:51 UTC 2025: News Article:

Diwali Fireworks Plunge New Delhi into “Hazardous” Air Quality

NEW DELHI – Celebrations of Diwali, the festival of lights, have left New Delhi gasping for air, with fireworks propelling the city’s air quality to the worst in the world. As of Tuesday morning, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached a hazardous 442, according to IQAir, a Swiss air quality firm.

The surge in pollution is attributed to the widespread use of fireworks during Monday evening’s Diwali festivities. This, combined with existing pollution from traffic, industry, and agricultural sources common during the cooler months, has created a toxic environment for the city’s 20 million residents.

The concentration of PM2.5, dangerous microscopic particles that can penetrate the lungs, has soared to over 59 times the World Health Organization’s recommended annual guideline. While India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) rated the air quality as “very poor” with an AQI of 350, even this figure significantly exceeds what is considered “good” (0-50).

Despite the Supreme Court’s prior relaxation of a firecracker ban, allowing “green crackers” with lower emissions for limited hours, reports indicate widespread violations of the permitted timings.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences anticipates that air quality will remain “Very Poor to Poor,” with AQI levels between 201 and 400 in the coming days. New Delhi and surrounding areas are notoriously prone to winter smog, where cold air traps pollutants, leading to respiratory illnesses for many residents. Previous efforts to combat the pollution have included school closures, construction bans, and vehicle restrictions.

Last November, the city endured weeks of severe smog, with the AQI soaring to over 1,700.

Neighboring Pakistan is also grappling with poor air quality. Lahore registered the second-highest AQI globally at 234. Authorities have implemented emergency measures to curb pollution, targeting farm fires and polluting vehicles. Officials in Pakistani Punjab claim that much of the pollution originates from Indian Punjab.

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