The Crossbill Team
The use of firecrackers during Diwali celebrations triggered a substantial overnight deterioration in air quality in Delhi and Mumbai, with several monitoring stations in both cities recording extremely high pollution levels.
While Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the ‘very poor’ category on Monday (November 9), parts of the capital experienced ‘severe’ pollution, with PM2.5 concentrations reaching more than 66 times the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended guideline.
In Delhi, the pollution spike followed widespread firecracker bursting on Sunday night, with celebrations continuing well beyond the 10 pm deadline imposed by the Supreme Court. Although pollution levels gradually declined in the early hours of Monday, the extent of the overnight spike may have been underestimated because several government-operated monitoring stations stopped reporting data during the crucial hours.
According to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), data from multiple monitoring stations, including Anand Vihar, R.K. Puram and Bawana, remained unavailable for several hours. Several other stations had also not updated their readings since Sunday night.
The available figures, however, indicated alarming pollution levels. Punjabi Bagh recorded a PM2.5 concentration of 993 micrograms per cubic metre at 4 am on Monday, approximately 66.2 times the WHO's recommended 24-hour guideline of 15 micrograms per cubic metre.
Vivek Vihar registered 873 micrograms per cubic metre at 2 am, around 58.2 times the WHO guideline, while R.K. Puram recorded 924 micrograms per cubic metre at 10 pm on Sunday, approximately 61.6 times the recommended level.
PM2.5 consists of fine inhalable particles measuring 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter. Their small size allows them to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk of respiratory and other health complications.
The Supreme Court had permitted the bursting of only green firecrackers during specified hours between 6 am and 7 am and 8 pm and 10 pm on November 7 and 8. However, traditional, more polluting firecrackers were also reportedly available in Delhi markets, while celebrations continued beyond the permitted hours.
According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Delhi's 24-hour average AQI stood at 370 at 9 am on Monday, placing the capital in the ‘very poor’ category. Several locations, including Chandni Chowk, ITO, Delhi University's North Campus, Rohini and Mundka, recorded ‘severe’ air quality.
The CPCB classifies AQI readings of 0-50 as good, 51-100 as satisfactory, 101-200 as moderate, 201-300 as poor, 301-400 as very poor and 401-500 as severe. ‘Severe’ air pollution affects healthy people and can seriously impact those with existing diseases.
Mumbai also witnessed a sharp deterioration, with nine of its 25 air quality monitoring stations recording ‘poor’ air quality on Monday morning. A thick haze covered several parts of the city following the overnight pollution surge, making it one of the worst air quality spells of the season.
Kherwadi recorded the highest AQI at 264 at 7 am. The city's overall AQI stood at 171, in the ‘moderate’ category, significantly higher than the 24-hour average of 132 recorded on Sunday evening.
Of Mumbai's 25 monitoring stations, 12 recorded ‘moderate’ air quality, three were in the ‘satisfactory’ category and only Borivali East registered ‘good’ air quality.
Several neighbourhoods experienced sharp pollution spikes through Sunday night. At the BKC-IITM monitoring station, the AQI rose from 206 at 10 pm to between 344 and 360 during the period from 11 pm to 3 am. It had declined to 232 by 7 am on Monday.
Chembur's AQI climbed from 334 to 401 overnight before falling to 216 by 7 am. Navy Nagar recorded some of the highest readings, with its AQI reaching 497 at 2 am after remaining close to 400 for much of the night. The reading subsequently declined to 274 by 7 am.
Shivaji Nagar recorded an AQI spike of 444 at 11 pm, while Sewri's reading rose from 255 at 9 pm to 452 by midnight. By 7 am, the AQI at the two locations had declined to 223 and 226, respectively.
Ghatkopar also experienced a significant overnight spike, with its AQI reaching 421 at 1 am and remaining elevated at 362 an hour later. At Chakala, the reading climbed to 408 at 2 am and stood at 302 an hour later. Byculla, meanwhile, recorded an AQI of 188, with readings fluctuating between 300 and 450 from 10 pm to 2 am.
The annual winter pollution crisis across Delhi-NCR and the wider Indo-Gangetic Plain is aggravated by low wind speeds and falling temperatures, which trap pollutants close to the ground.
Emissions from vehicles, construction dust and seasonal stubble burning further compound the problem, while firecracker use during the festive season adds to the already heavy pollution burden.
While Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the ‘very poor’ category on Monday (November 9), parts of the capital experienced ‘severe’ pollution, with PM2.5 concentrations reaching more than 66 times the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended guideline.
In Delhi, the pollution spike followed widespread firecracker bursting on Sunday night, with celebrations continuing well beyond the 10 pm deadline imposed by the Supreme Court. Although pollution levels gradually declined in the early hours of Monday, the extent of the overnight spike may have been underestimated because several government-operated monitoring stations stopped reporting data during the crucial hours.
According to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), data from multiple monitoring stations, including Anand Vihar, R.K. Puram and Bawana, remained unavailable for several hours. Several other stations had also not updated their readings since Sunday night.
The available figures, however, indicated alarming pollution levels. Punjabi Bagh recorded a PM2.5 concentration of 993 micrograms per cubic metre at 4 am on Monday, approximately 66.2 times the WHO's recommended 24-hour guideline of 15 micrograms per cubic metre.
Vivek Vihar registered 873 micrograms per cubic metre at 2 am, around 58.2 times the WHO guideline, while R.K. Puram recorded 924 micrograms per cubic metre at 10 pm on Sunday, approximately 61.6 times the recommended level.
PM2.5 consists of fine inhalable particles measuring 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter. Their small size allows them to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk of respiratory and other health complications.
The Supreme Court had permitted the bursting of only green firecrackers during specified hours between 6 am and 7 am and 8 pm and 10 pm on November 7 and 8. However, traditional, more polluting firecrackers were also reportedly available in Delhi markets, while celebrations continued beyond the permitted hours.
According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Delhi's 24-hour average AQI stood at 370 at 9 am on Monday, placing the capital in the ‘very poor’ category. Several locations, including Chandni Chowk, ITO, Delhi University's North Campus, Rohini and Mundka, recorded ‘severe’ air quality.
The CPCB classifies AQI readings of 0-50 as good, 51-100 as satisfactory, 101-200 as moderate, 201-300 as poor, 301-400 as very poor and 401-500 as severe. ‘Severe’ air pollution affects healthy people and can seriously impact those with existing diseases.
Mumbai also witnessed a sharp deterioration, with nine of its 25 air quality monitoring stations recording ‘poor’ air quality on Monday morning. A thick haze covered several parts of the city following the overnight pollution surge, making it one of the worst air quality spells of the season.
Kherwadi recorded the highest AQI at 264 at 7 am. The city's overall AQI stood at 171, in the ‘moderate’ category, significantly higher than the 24-hour average of 132 recorded on Sunday evening.
Of Mumbai's 25 monitoring stations, 12 recorded ‘moderate’ air quality, three were in the ‘satisfactory’ category and only Borivali East registered ‘good’ air quality.
Several neighbourhoods experienced sharp pollution spikes through Sunday night. At the BKC-IITM monitoring station, the AQI rose from 206 at 10 pm to between 344 and 360 during the period from 11 pm to 3 am. It had declined to 232 by 7 am on Monday.
Chembur's AQI climbed from 334 to 401 overnight before falling to 216 by 7 am. Navy Nagar recorded some of the highest readings, with its AQI reaching 497 at 2 am after remaining close to 400 for much of the night. The reading subsequently declined to 274 by 7 am.
Shivaji Nagar recorded an AQI spike of 444 at 11 pm, while Sewri's reading rose from 255 at 9 pm to 452 by midnight. By 7 am, the AQI at the two locations had declined to 223 and 226, respectively.
Ghatkopar also experienced a significant overnight spike, with its AQI reaching 421 at 1 am and remaining elevated at 362 an hour later. At Chakala, the reading climbed to 408 at 2 am and stood at 302 an hour later. Byculla, meanwhile, recorded an AQI of 188, with readings fluctuating between 300 and 450 from 10 pm to 2 am.
The annual winter pollution crisis across Delhi-NCR and the wider Indo-Gangetic Plain is aggravated by low wind speeds and falling temperatures, which trap pollutants close to the ground.
Emissions from vehicles, construction dust and seasonal stubble burning further compound the problem, while firecracker use during the festive season adds to the already heavy pollution burden.
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