Severe smog engulfs New Delhi after Diwali fireworks raise pollution

New Delhi’s air quality hit ‘severe’ levels on Monday, with the Air Quality Index surpassing 350 in several districts, after residents set off firecrackers during Diwali celebrations on Sunday, exposing more than 30 million people to heightened health risks, Al Jazeera reported.

Why did pollution spike after Diwali?

The surge was driven by smoke and fine particulate matter released when firecrackers were ignited throughout Sunday evening, adding to the seasonal smog that already blankets the capital, Al Jazeera said.

What legal limits existed for fireworks?

India’s Supreme Court, in a ruling last month, allowed only approved “green firecrackers” to be used during three‑hour windows on Saturday and Sunday, a measure meant to curb emissions but which does not eliminate pollution, Al Jazeera noted.

How does the current pollution compare with health standards?

On Monday morning the AQI exceeded 350, a level the World Health Organization classifies as “severe” and associated with significant health risks; earlier in the week, monitors recorded pollution more than 30 times the WHO’s recommended daily limit, Al Jazeera reported.

Winter conditions such as low wind, cooler temperatures and stagnant air further trap pollutants, while vehicles contribute 23 % and biomass burning, including farm stubble fires, adds another 20 % to Delhi’s winter haze, according to India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Al Jazeera added.