Delhi AQI After Diwali: Thick Smog Chokes Capital, 15 Stations Severe

Beyond Crackers And Stubble: How Political Inertia Chokes The Capital Year After Year

<p>Delhi woke on the morning of November 9, 2026 under a thick, yellowish haze that cut visibility and left a metallic taste in the mouth. Diwali had been celebrated the night before, on November 8, with the usual lamps, sweets and, despite the Supreme Court’s limited green-cracker windows, a heavy burst of firecrackers that sent particulate levels soaring at several monitoring stations. By dawn, the city’s average Air Quality Index sat in the v…

Firecrackers turn Delhi into a gas chamber, AQI nears severe

Delhi experienced alarmingly high pollution levels on Monday, the day after Diwali, with its Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 'very poor' and 'severe' categories. The deterioration was attributed to widespread firecracker bursting despite restrictions, coupled with unfavourable meteorological conditions, vehicular emissions, and stubble burning. Residents reported a thick haze, reduced visibility, and respiratory irritation.

Delhi Air Quality Spikes To 'Severe' Levels Post-Diwali Despite GRAP-III Curbs

The post-Diwali spike occurred despite the authorities invoking Stage III of GRAP on Friday

Delhi AQI After Diwali: Thick Smog Chokes Capital, 15 Stations Severe

Delhi pollution after Diwali worsens as thick smog blankets the capital. AQI stands at 366, while 15 monitoring stations record severe air quality. GRAP Stage III restrictions remain in force across Delhi-NCR.