Air pollution in New Delhi, the capital of India, has reached a critical level after millions of people celebrated the Diwali festival with fireworks. PM2.5 particle levels in some areas were found to be nearly 59 times the daily standard limit.
New Delhi, India’s capital, is facing severe air pollution again after millions joined in the Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, by setting off fireworks, causing dangerous spikes in toxic dust levels in many areas.
Data from IQAir, an air quality monitoring organization, showed that in the early morning of 9 November—about eight hours after the peak fireworks display—PM2.5 particulate matter, harmful fine dust, reached 879 micrograms per cubic meter in the Mandir Marg area, according to local government monitoring stations.
This figure is nearly 59 times higher than the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended average daily concentration of 15 micrograms per cubic meter.
Diwali is a major Hindu festival celebrated annually with lights and fireworks, but the widespread fireworks worsen the winter smog problem in New Delhi, one of the world's most polluted cities. Contributing factors include vehicle emissions, agricultural residue burning, and industrial activity.
Previously, in November, the Indian Supreme Court allowed only limited use of "Green Crackers"—fireworks designed to emit less pollution—during Diwali. However, this measure was often ignored, leading to widespread and continuous fireworks noise in many areas.
Meanwhile, Indian authorities have enforced traffic restrictions and halted construction activities over recent weeks to control smog in New Delhi, which has a population exceeding 30 million.
Data from India's Ministry of Environment shows that during winter, vehicles contribute about 23% of air pollution, biomass burning including crop residue accounts for 20%, and industry including coal-fired power plants makes up around 9%.
The largest pollution source, at 27%, comes from secondary particles formed by chemical reactions among gases emitted by vehicles, factories, power plants, and biomass burning in the atmosphere.
Furthermore, a 2024 study published in The Lancet Planetary Health estimates that between 2009 and 2019, approximately 3.8 million deaths in India were linked to air pollution, highlighting the severe impact of this issue facing the country.
Source:channelnewsasia
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