Diwali Pollution

Delhi world's most polluted major city, says Swiss group on Diwali eve

Delhi recorded an IQAir US AQI reading of 581 on Saturday morning, while India's CPCB placed the capital's AQI at 363 in the 'very poor' category

Green crackers, hazy reality: Allowing these may have only marginal impact

Green crackers and restricted timings may do little to ease pollution in the National Capital Region

Delhi AQI may turn severe on Diwali, worsen further after festival: Experts

Delhi's AQI is forecast to turn severe from November 6, with firecracker emissions, stubble burning and weakening winds likely to worsen pollution after Diwali.

Green crackers promise less pollution, but how green are they really?

Green crackers promise to cut particulate and gaseous emissions, but they are not pollution-free. How much cleaner are they, and can they make a difference to Diwali air quality?

Diwali 2026: Are firecrackers allowed in Delhi this year? What we know

Delhi's year-round firecracker ban remains in place ahead of Diwali, even as the Supreme Court weighed a possible relaxation while questioning authorities over poor enforcement of its earlier orders

No entry to non-Delhi BS-III goods vehicles from today: Key details

Officials estimate that around 50,000-70,000 vehicles in the NCR region do not meet BS-VI standards, and those below BS-III standards will be turned back at the borders

3 in 4 Delhi-NCR residents say pollution harming health already: Survey

A LocalCircles survey finds 42 per cent of people in Delhi-NCR report sore throat or cough, while 25 per cent have family members with burning eyes or headaches from pollution

As Delhi breathes toxic air after Diwali, political blame game erupts again

A political blame game has erupted once again with BJP and AAP accusing one another for the worsening air quality in the national capital, a day after Diwali

SC chose right to burn crackers over right to live, breathe: Amitabh Kant

Kant's remarks came a day after India celebrated Diwali, and the national capital witnessed the bursting of crackers in full frenzy, and it woke up to a thick layer of toxic air

Diwali 2025: Festive season isn't kind to your skin. Here's how to fix it

Too many sweets, sleepless nights, smog, and heavy makeup can trigger festive breakouts. Dermatologists share how to calm your skin, restore its glow, and prevent post-Diwali damage

Delhi wakes up to toxic skies after Diwali, 36 of 38 zones in red

While most areas in the national capital recorded AQI levels above 300, several localities, including Greater Kailash and Patel Nagar, breached the 500 mark

Delhi air remains poor for 5th day, 9 stations in red zone ahead of Diwali

Delhi's air quality continued to deteriorate on Saturday, remaining in the "poor" category for the fifth consecutive day, with nine monitoring stations falling in the red zone of the "very poor" category as pollution levels spiked ahead of Diwali. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the national capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 268 at 4 pm, placing it in the "poor" category. Within the NCR region, Ghaziabad recorded a "very poor" AQI of 324, while Noida and Gurugram remained in the "poor" category with AQIs of 298 and 258, respectively. Out of the 38 monitoring stations in the capital, nine reported air quality in the "very poor" category, with some locations inching towards the "severe zone. Anand Vihar recorded the highest AQI at 389, followed by Wazirpur (351), Bawana (309), Jahangirpuri (310), Okhla (303), Vivek Vihar (306), Dwarka (310), and Siri Fort (307), according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). According to the

Diwali 2025: How asthma and COPD patients can protect their lungs from smog

As pollution peaks this Diwali, pulmonologists share essential tips for people with asthma, COPD, and chronic bronchitis to stay safe, breathe easier, and enjoy the festivities without fear

Firecracker ban in balance: How Delhi plans to manage Diwali pollution | Green firecrackers

With Diwali just days away, Delhi stands divided between tradition and clean air. As the Supreme Court weighs lifting the ban on green firecrackers, the Delhi government gears up with enforcement team

Cracking pollution: Green fireworks are not India's long-term solution

Burning crackers during the paroxysms of celebrations that erupt during Diwali and continue after the festival add significantly to the pungent particulate matter in the air

Delhi's Diwali: Noise levels surged most in Karol Bagh; RK Puram quieter

On Diwali, 22 out of 31 monitored areas reported higher noise levels than last year, with only nine areas showing a reduction

Firecracker bursting shrouds Delhi in smog, creating hazardous conditions

Relentless bursting of firecrackers blanketed Delhi in dense smoke on Thursday, causing severe noise pollution and reducing visibility, as people defied a ban on firecrackers to celebrate Diwali. The city's air quality dropped to the "very poor" category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 330 at 10 pm. Key areas, including Anand Vihar, saw the AQI plunge into the "severe" category while PM2.5 concentrations soared, creating hazardous conditions for respiratory health. In contrast to the clearer sky on Diwali last year, when favourable conditions kept the AQI at 218, this year's celebrations returned the city to its notorious pollution levels, a pattern worsened by unfavourable meteorological conditions, stubble burning and vehicular emissions. Although the city government had set up 377 enforcement teams and spread awareness through local associations to ensure compliance with the firecracker ban, neighbourhoods across east and west Delhi reported large-scale flouting of the ...

Delhi's air quality continues to deteriorate, remains 'very poor' on Diwali

Delhi's air quality continued to deteriorate, remaining in the "very poor" category on Diwali, with levels expected to worsen to the "severe" category due to bursting of firecrackers at night. Delhiites woke up Thursday to a sky shrouded in a thick layer of smog. The air in Anand Vihar, a major terminus, was extremely polluted with the AQI in the "severe" category. The city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 328 at 4 pm, up from 307 on Wednesday when the city celebrated Chhoti Diwali. In 2023, Delhi residents enjoyed clearer skies and abundant sunshine on Diwali, with an AQI of 218, compared to 312 in 2022, 382 in 2021, 414 in 2020, 337 in 2019, 281 in 2018, 319 in 2017, and 431 in 2016, according to the Central Pollution Control Board data. Last year, a decrease in stubble-burning incidents and rain before Diwali, along with favourable meteorological conditions, prevented the national capital from turning into a gas chamber after the festival. The pollutan

8 best eco-friendly Diwali tips to reduce air pollution and protect health

Celebrate this Diwali in an eco-friendly manner to combat the serious problem of air pollution hampering your health. Check 8 best eco-friendly Diwali tips

Human fertility at risk: How everyday pollution affects reproductive health

Environmental pollutants in air, water, and soil, once secondary to genetics, are now major contributors to reproductive health issues in men and women