Delhi pollution worsens after Diwali fireworks

Delhi’s air pollution worsened after Diwali fireworks, with official readings showing severe conditions in parts of the capital on Monday, November 9. The Central Pollution Control Board recorded an air quality index of 370 at 9 a.m., classifying it as very poor, while official data showed readings above 400 in many areas, a level categorized as severe.

A separate measure captured pollution at one monitoring location. IQAir, citing data from a city government station, reported that PM2.5 concentrations at Mandir Marg reached 879 micrograms per cubic metre early Monday, about eight hours after fireworks peaked. The reported concentration was nearly 59 times the World Health Organization’s recommended daily maximum. The AQI readings and the PM2.5 concentration refer to different measures and locations.

Delhi’s Supreme Court had allowed only certified, lower-polluting “green” firecrackers during limited hours over the Diwali period. Residents reported fireworks continuing late into the night, and reports described restrictions as being flouted. The available monitoring figures show pollution after the celebrations but do not quantify how much of the episode was caused specifically...