New Delhi Chokes Under Smog as Diwali Firecrackers Ignite Air Quality Crisis

New Delhi was enveloped in a thick blanket of smog on the morning after Diwali, as firecrackers used during the Hindu festival of lights significantly worsened the city's seasonal pollution crisis. Diwali, celebrated across India on Sunday, saw residents of the Indian capital lighting fireworks despite existing restrictions. This tradition released a substantial amount of smoke and fine particulate matter into the atmosphere.

By Monday morning, the Air Quality Index in several areas of New Delhi had surpassed 350, a level categorized as "severe." According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this poses considerable health risks. Earlier in October, India's Supreme Court had implemented measures to curb Diwali-related pollution, permitting only approved "green firecrackers" under specific conditions for limited durations on Saturday and Sunday. While these approved crackers generate fewer emissions, they are not entirely pollution-free.

The issue of air quality in New Delhi is a recurring seasonal problem. Days before Diwali, on Wednesday, toxic air pollution levels had already soared to over 30 times the WHO's recommended daily limit, as indicated by air monitoring data. New Delhi, a megacity with a population of 30 million, consistently ranks among the most polluted capital cities globally. The problem intensifies during winter months due to cooler temperatures, low wind speeds, and stagnant atmospheric conditions that hinder the dispersal of pollutants.

Contributing factors to New Delhi's winter pollution include vehicle emissions, which account for 23 percent, and biomass burning, such as farm stubble fires, which contribute 20 percent, according to India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The cumulative effect is a dense haze that can persist over the capital and its surrounding regions for extended periods.