Delhi air hits nearly 59 times WHO limit after Diwali fireworks

Diwali fireworks sharply worsened New Delhi’s already dangerous air pollution, with monitoring stations reporting severe air quality across parts of the city and reduced visibility amid smoke, haze and fog. PM2.5 reached 879 micrograms per cubic metre at one location—nearly 59 times the World Health Organization’s recommended daily limit—while several stations recorded AQI readings above 400. Fireworks continued despite restrictions limiting the use of lower-emission “green” firecrackers, and weak winds and fog further hindered conditions. A year-over-year analysis described the night as Delhi’s third-worst Diwali for pollution since 2021, while warning that gaps in monitoring-station data make comparisons difficult.