New Delhi, November 2026 : Delhi witnessed a sharp deterioration in air quality on Monday, a day after Diwali, as pollution levels entered the 'Severe' category across several localities, with a thick layer of smog enveloping parts of the national Capital and reducing visibility during the morning hours.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) Sameer application, Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 376, placing it in the 'Very Poor' category. However, several monitoring stations reported significantly higher readings, with some areas recording AQI levels above 440.
Sonia Vihar recorded the highest AQI at 449, followed by Burari Crossing at 445 and Vivek Vihar at 441, according to pollution monitoring data. Jahangirpuri registered an AQI of 439, while Delhi University's North Campus recorded 437 and Rohini 435.
Other localities reporting 'Severe' air quality included Delhi Technological University (DTU) at 431, Bawana at 424, Chandni Chowk and Patparganj at 418 each, Mundka at 413, and NIH Narela and Punjabi Bagh at 408 each. The Commonwealth Sports Complex and ITO both recorded an AQI of 404.
The pollution spike once again raised concerns over the impact of firecracker emissions and the effectiveness of restrictions imposed ahead of the festival. Despite directions issued by the Supreme Court, firecrackers were reportedly burst in several parts of Delhi beyond the permitted time window.
The monitoring of pollution levels during Diwali night also came under scrutiny. According to an NDTV report, several neighbourhoods experienced a significant rise in pollution, with R.K. Puram and Nehru Nagar, near Lajpat Nagar, among the affected locations until 9 p.m.
The report further said that while the real-time monitoring system initially showed a steep increase in pollution levels, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee's (DPCC) website stopped displaying live readings from several monitoring stations for a few hours. The affected locations reportedly included R.K. Puram, Nehru Nagar, Mundka, Sonia Vihar and Dwarka.
The interruption prompted questions about the availability of real-time air quality information during the period when pollution levels were rising sharply.
Meanwhile, Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra criticised Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that a campaign was being run from the latter's residence to malign Deepavali under the pretext of raising concerns over pollution. His remarks added a political dimension to the debate over the festival and deteriorating air quality.
Official figures cited in reports also indicated that pollution levels in certain parts of the Capital exceeded the World Health Organisation's (WHO) recommended limits by more than 50 times. The rise was reported amid continued firecracker use beyond the Supreme Court's 10 p.m. deadline.
Delhi's post-Diwali pollution episode has once again highlighted the challenges of controlling seasonal air pollution. The high readings have renewed attention on firecracker enforcement, pollution monitoring systems and the need for coordinated measures to address the Capital's deteriorating air quality.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
