New Delhi air quality index hits 350 after Diwali fires

The air quality index in New Delhi climbed above 350 on Monday morning, placing the Indian capital in the severe pollution category following Sunday evening Diwali celebrations.

Residents ignored restrictions on conventional fireworks and lit firecrackers during the Hindu festival of lights. The explosions released smoke and fine particulate matter into the atmosphere, compounding the seasonal air pollution crisis that affects the city every year.

Monitoring stations across the capital recorded these high levels, while visibility dropped as a gray haze covered streets and high-rise buildings. Isyad, a New Delhi resident who uses one name, reported physical discomfort from the thick air. He said, "Because of the pollution there is irritation in the throat and itching in the eyes."

The Supreme Court of India had previously ordered limits on Diwali pollution. The ruling allowed only approved green firecrackers during specific three-hour windows on Saturday and Sunday. Although these crackers produce fewer emissions than traditional ones, they still release particulate matter and other pollutants into the already hazardous air.

New Delhi and its metropolitan region are home to more than 30 million people. The area regularly ranks among the world's most polluted zones during winter months. The situation worsens when Diwali fireworks coincide with cooler weather and smoke from crop-residue fires in neighboring Punjab and Haryana states. Farmers burn leftover rice stalks after harvest to clear fields, and that smoke drifts toward the capital.

Local sources of pollution, including vehicles, industries, and construction dust, add to the burden. Conditions become most acute in late October and November. Cooler temperatures, low wind speeds, and stagnant atmospheric conditions prevent pollutants from dispersing, allowing a thick haze to linger over the capital for days.

Authorities have implemented measures to curb pollution, including limits on construction activity and restrictions on diesel generators. Courts have also sought restrictions on firecrackers, but these steps have not prevented the return of severe pollution annually. Shweta Narayan, a public health expert at the Global Climate and Health Alliance, described the government's response as knee-jerk and temporary. She noted that many interventions happen only because the government is pressured to act.