Delhi's air pollution crisis has intensified on Diwali, with the national capital recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 383 on November 7, placing it close to the ‘severe’ category. The deterioration comes despite restrictions on firecracker use and the implementation of emergency pollution-control measures.

According to The Press Trust of India, 24 of the 54 air quality monitoring stations across Delhi recorded ‘severe’ pollution levels, while the remaining stations reported ‘very poor’ air quality. Jahangirpuri registered the highest AQI at 450, followed by R.K. Puram at 448, according to the Sameer app.

The situation is expected to deteriorate further, with Delhi likely to remain in the ‘severe’ category on November 8 and 9, the PTI reported.

The latest deterioration follows an already alarming pollution situation on the eve of Diwali. Delhi recorded its worst air quality on Diwali eve in a decade, with the AQI reaching 369 in the ‘very poor’ category, The Times of India reported.

On November 6, an AQI reading of 382 had prompted authorities to invoke Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), bringing additional restrictions and emergency measures to curb pollution in the capital.

The Supreme Court also expressed concern over vehicular emissions, identifying them as a major source of air pollution across Delhi-NCR. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant observed that “no restriction” was going to work.

The worsening air quality has once again brought the health consequences of pollution into focus.

The Crossbill had reported on a report by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), which found that more than 20 lakh deaths in India were attributable to air pollution in 2023. The continuing deterioration in Delhi highlights the challenge of tackling pollution through seasonal restrictions when the sources of emissions remain largely unaddressed.