As Diwali approaches, Delhi is already struggling to breathe. With just a day left before the festival of lights, air quality across the national capital has plunged to hazardous levels, raising serious
health concerns. On Dhanteras (October 18), the city witnessed alarming pollution spikes, with particulate matter readings far exceeding both national and international safety limits.
How’s the air quality today?
Delhi’s air quality worsened significantly on Sunday, October 19, with multiple monitoring stations recording alarming levels of pollution. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city recorded an AQI of 274 at 5:30 am, placing it in the “poor” category.
By 7 am, the situation escalated, with Anand Vihar hitting 426, entering the “severe” zone. Other areas including RK Puram (322), Vivek Vihar (349), Ashok Vihar (304), Bawana (303), and Jahangirpuri (314) remained in the “very poor” category.
Anand Vihar recorded the highest AQI at 426, entering the severe category. Several areas remained in the very poor category, including Ashok Vihar (304), RK Puram (322), Bawana (303), Jahangirpuri (314), Dwarka (327), and Vivek Vihar (349).
Other parts of the city fell under the poor category, such as Lodhi Road (221), Najafgarh (212), Okhla Phase 2 (283), and Narela (266).
This data shows a significant deterioration in air quality across Delhi, with multiple areas nearing hazardous levels. The variation in AQI across the city highlights the impact of local emissions, traffic, and other pollution sources on residents’ daily exposure to harmful particulate matter.
In Delhi NCR, neighboring regions mirrored this trend. Loni in Ghaziabad recorded 341, Sector 125 Noida reached 342, and Sector 51 Gurugram also reported 342, all in the “very poor” bracket. Out of 38 stations in Delhi, nine were in the “very poor” zone, inching towards “severe” levels.
Western and northern parts of the city, including Dwarka, Wazirpur, and Ashok Vihar, also saw pollution soar to dangerous levels, offering a grim preview of what Diwali night could bring.
Experts attribute the pollution surge primarily to transport emissions, accounting for 15.6% of Delhi’s total pollution load, compounded by firecrackers and stubble burning. With Diwali approaching, authorities warn that air quality could deteriorate further.
The India Meteorological Department forecasted fog in the morning followed by clear skies, with temperatures ranging between 19°C and 33°C, offering little natural relief from the toxic air. Residents are advised to take precautions, especially the elderly, children, and those with respiratory conditions.
Several monitoring stations recorded dangerously high levels, with Anand Vihar peaking at 404, Wazirpur at 361, and Vivek Vihar at 349.
Out of 38 stations, nine fell into the “very poor” category, some nearing the “severe” zone, posing serious health risks. The National Capital Region also recorded high AQI levels – Ghaziabad at 324, Noida at 298, and Gurugram at 258. Rising emissions and pre-Diwali fireworks are expected to exacerbate pollution further, making the air increasingly hazardous.
Doctors have warned that such exposure can aggravate asthma, heart disease, and respiratory ailments, especially among children and the elderly.
According to experts, meteorological conditions and local emissions are causing hazardous pollution levels at multiple locations, and it is highly likely that these levels will rise further during festive celebrations, making it increasingly difficult to breathe.
Prediction of ‘severe’ air quality on Diwali night
According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Delhi’s air quality is expected to deteriorate further on October 20 (Diwali day), reaching the upper end of the “very poor” category. The forecast warns of a possible shift to “severe” levels by October 21, especially if cracker emissions rise.
Although the Supreme Court’s October 15 order allows only “green crackers” within strict time limits (6–7 am and 8–10 pm on October 19 and 20), enforcement remains a challenge.
This year’s build-up mirrors the toxic trend seen in previous years. A 2024 Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study reported a 46% surge in PM2.5 levels around Diwali, with concentrations peaking at 603 µg/m³ on Diwali night, a 13% higher than the 2022 and 2023 levels. On that night, nine of Delhi’s 38 monitoring stations recorded PM2.5 above 900 µg/m³, with Anand Vihar and Nehru Nagar nearing 1,000 µg/m³.
Weather conditions, particularly calm winds and westerly flows, have compounded the problem by trapping pollutants. Satellite data shows nearly 1,000 stubble-burning incidents across northern states this season, further worsening the capital’s smog.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police and Pollution Control Committee have launched patrols and surprise checks to curb the sale of non-certified crackers. Only those certified by NEERI and carrying valid QR codes can be sold through licensed vendors.
However, despite these measures, experts fear that unless emissions are drastically reduced and meteorological conditions improve, Delhi could once again find itself engulfed in a grey haze, a recurring and tragic prelude to the festival of lights.
