📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Fredericknoronha
National
Firecrackers Account for 80% of Delhi’s Post‑Diwali Air Pollution, Study Finds
✍️ India Today
🗓 11 Nov 2026, 02:17 PM
👁 15
A recent estimate indicates that firecrackers were responsible for about 80% of the air quality deterioration in Delhi after Diwali.
A new estimate released by India Today attributes roughly 80 per cent of the spike in Delhi's air pollution after the Diwali celebrations to firecracker emissions. The assessment, based on data collected in the days following the festival, compares pollutant levels with baseline measurements taken earlier in the month.
The analysis shows that particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides surged dramatically when fireworks were set off, overwhelming the city's already strained air‑quality management systems. Health officials have warned that such a sharp rise can exacerbate respiratory problems, especially for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.
Authorities in the capital have reiterated calls for stricter enforcement of the existing ban on firecrackers, citing the latest findings as evidence of the environmental and public‑health impact. The report underscores the need for sustained monitoring and public awareness to curb pollution spikes during future festivals.
The analysis shows that particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides surged dramatically when fireworks were set off, overwhelming the city's already strained air‑quality management systems. Health officials have warned that such a sharp rise can exacerbate respiratory problems, especially for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.
Authorities in the capital have reiterated calls for stricter enforcement of the existing ban on firecrackers, citing the latest findings as evidence of the environmental and public‑health impact. The report underscores the need for sustained monitoring and public awareness to curb pollution spikes during future festivals.