📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Weather
Delhi’s Post‑Deepavali PM2.5 Spike Sparks Data Dispute
✍️ The Hindu
🗓 09 Nov 2026, 10:32 PM
👁 9
Air quality readings in Delhi showed a rise in PM2.5 levels after Deepavali, prompting a disagreement between monitoring agencies over the reported figures.
Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) recorded a noticeable increase in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the days following the Deepavali celebrations. The rise has drawn attention from environmental experts who stress that PM2.5 particles, being less than 2.5 microns in diameter, can penetrate deep into the lungs and pose health risks.
The latest readings, released by the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme, show that the city’s PM2.5 concentrations moved into the “moderate” to “poor” range, a shift from the relatively cleaner levels observed before the festival. Authorities attribute the spike to firecracker emissions and increased vehicular traffic.
However, a row has emerged as the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) present slightly differing figures for the same period. While both agencies agree that pollution rose, the DPCC’s data suggests a higher peak than the CPCB’s, leading to questions about monitoring equipment calibration and data collection methods.
Environmental NGOs have called for a unified reporting framework to ensure transparency and public trust. They argue that consistent data is essential for timely health advisories and for evaluating the effectiveness of any mitigation measures.
The debate continues as the city prepares for upcoming winter months, traditionally a period of higher pollution. Officials have pledged to review monitoring protocols and to increase public awareness about the health impacts of PM2.5 exposure.
The latest readings, released by the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme, show that the city’s PM2.5 concentrations moved into the “moderate” to “poor” range, a shift from the relatively cleaner levels observed before the festival. Authorities attribute the spike to firecracker emissions and increased vehicular traffic.
However, a row has emerged as the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) present slightly differing figures for the same period. While both agencies agree that pollution rose, the DPCC’s data suggests a higher peak than the CPCB’s, leading to questions about monitoring equipment calibration and data collection methods.
Environmental NGOs have called for a unified reporting framework to ensure transparency and public trust. They argue that consistent data is essential for timely health advisories and for evaluating the effectiveness of any mitigation measures.
The debate continues as the city prepares for upcoming winter months, traditionally a period of higher pollution. Officials have pledged to review monitoring protocols and to increase public awareness about the health impacts of PM2.5 exposure.