The Crossbill News Desk
A day after Diwali celebrations, Delhi and its surrounding areas were engulfed in thick layers of smog on Tuesday (October 21), with air quality plunging to ‘severe’ and ‘very poor’ levels across the region.
The assumption by both the Supreme Court and the Delhi government that allowing the use of green crackers would help keep pollution under control proved to be a damp squib, as the national capital woke up to a choking haze and sharply deteriorated air quality.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), thirty-three out of 36 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi registered readings in the ‘red zone’, reflecting ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ conditions.
Most other stations reported AQI levels between 300 and 400. Press Trust of India visuals captured a thick blanket of smog covering the city, reducing visibility on major roads and intersections.
At 10 am on October 21, Delhi’s overall AQI stood at 359, up from 345 recorded on Diwali afternoon. The World Health Organisation’s guidelines state that PM2.5 exposure should not exceed 15 micrograms per cubic metre over 24 hours, but Delhi’s pollution levels were found to be nearly 24 times higher than the prescribed limit in some areas.
Residents across the capital complained of breathing discomfort and irritation. Last year’s post-Diwali pollution spike had led to a surge in lung-related ailments, particularly among children under the age of ten. While official health data for 2025 is yet to be released, experts fear a similar trend this year.
The toxic smog also triggered sharp criticism from public figures. Former NITI Aayog CEO and ex-G20 sherpa Amitabh Kant criticised the Supreme Court, remarking that the apex court had chosen the “right to burn crackers” over the right to live.
In response to the worsening air quality, Delhi government officials activated the second stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Sunday. Measures included restrictions on the use of diesel generators and bans on burning coal and firewood in the city and its adjoining areas in an effort to curb further deterioration in air quality.
The assumption by both the Supreme Court and the Delhi government that allowing the use of green crackers would help keep pollution under control proved to be a damp squib, as the national capital woke up to a choking haze and sharply deteriorated air quality.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), thirty-three out of 36 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi registered readings in the ‘red zone’, reflecting ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ conditions.
Most other stations reported AQI levels between 300 and 400. Press Trust of India visuals captured a thick blanket of smog covering the city, reducing visibility on major roads and intersections.
At 10 am on October 21, Delhi’s overall AQI stood at 359, up from 345 recorded on Diwali afternoon. The World Health Organisation’s guidelines state that PM2.5 exposure should not exceed 15 micrograms per cubic metre over 24 hours, but Delhi’s pollution levels were found to be nearly 24 times higher than the prescribed limit in some areas.
Residents across the capital complained of breathing discomfort and irritation. Last year’s post-Diwali pollution spike had led to a surge in lung-related ailments, particularly among children under the age of ten. While official health data for 2025 is yet to be released, experts fear a similar trend this year.
The toxic smog also triggered sharp criticism from public figures. Former NITI Aayog CEO and ex-G20 sherpa Amitabh Kant criticised the Supreme Court, remarking that the apex court had chosen the “right to burn crackers” over the right to live.
In response to the worsening air quality, Delhi government officials activated the second stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Sunday. Measures included restrictions on the use of diesel generators and bans on burning coal and firewood in the city and its adjoining areas in an effort to curb further deterioration in air quality.
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