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Weather
Delhi's AQI spikes to 404, pushing air quality into 'severe' category on Diwali
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 09 Nov 2026, 07:32 AM
👁 20
On Diwali, Delhi's air quality index rose to 404, classifying the pollution level as severe.
The Capital's air quality index (AQI) jumped to 404 on the night of Diwali, moving the city into the "severe" pollution bracket as defined by the national monitoring system. An AQI above 300 is considered severe, indicating hazardous conditions for the general public.
Officials from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee said the spike coincided with the widespread use of fireworks across the city, which release large quantities of particulate matter and toxic gases. The rise in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the primary driver behind the elevated AQI.
Health advisories were issued, urging residents, especially children, the elderly and those with respiratory ailments, to limit outdoor activities and keep windows closed. The city administration has also deployed additional air‑monitoring units to track the situation in real time.
While the AQI is expected to gradually improve as fireworks subside, authorities warned that the lingering pollutants could affect air quality for several days, and they are monitoring the trend closely.
Officials from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee said the spike coincided with the widespread use of fireworks across the city, which release large quantities of particulate matter and toxic gases. The rise in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the primary driver behind the elevated AQI.
Health advisories were issued, urging residents, especially children, the elderly and those with respiratory ailments, to limit outdoor activities and keep windows closed. The city administration has also deployed additional air‑monitoring units to track the situation in real time.
While the AQI is expected to gradually improve as fireworks subside, authorities warned that the lingering pollutants could affect air quality for several days, and they are monitoring the trend closely.