📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Fredericknoronha
Weather
Delhi and NCR breach hazardous air quality levels on Diwali despite curbs
✍️ India Today
🗓 08 Nov 2026, 11:37 AM
👁 14
On Diwali, air quality in Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region fell to hazardous levels despite the implementation of firework restrictions.
Delhi and the National Capital Region recorded air‑quality indices that crossed the hazardous threshold on the night of Diwali, a day traditionally marked by fireworks and celebrations. Monitoring agencies reported that pollutant concentrations rose sharply, placing the region in the most dangerous category for public health.
The government had imposed curbs on the sale and use of firecrackers weeks before the festival, aiming to limit emissions. Nevertheless, the data showed that the restrictions were insufficient to keep pollution within safe limits, underscoring the challenge of managing air quality during large cultural events.
Health officials warned residents, especially those with respiratory conditions, to limit outdoor exposure and to use masks. The episode adds pressure on policymakers to reassess existing measures and consider more stringent controls for future festivals.
The government had imposed curbs on the sale and use of firecrackers weeks before the festival, aiming to limit emissions. Nevertheless, the data showed that the restrictions were insufficient to keep pollution within safe limits, underscoring the challenge of managing air quality during large cultural events.
Health officials warned residents, especially those with respiratory conditions, to limit outdoor exposure and to use masks. The episode adds pressure on policymakers to reassess existing measures and consider more stringent controls for future festivals.