Diwali firecracker smoke deepens New Delhi’s seasonal pollution crisis
Heavy smog covered the Indian capital after Diwali celebrations, with air quality readings exceeding 350 in several areas on Monday morning.
By Olga Menon ·
New Delhi was enveloped in heavy smog after Diwali firecrackers added smoke and fine particulate matter to the capital’s already polluted air. The celebrations intensified a seasonal pollution crisis in a city of 30 million people that persistently ranks among the world’s most polluted capitals.
By Monday morning, November 9, the Air Quality Index had climbed above 350 in several parts of the city. The readings were categorised as severe, with pollution levels posing significant health risks when measured against the World Health Organization’s recommended exposure thresholds. The deterioration followed an evening of firecracker use across the capital.
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, was celebrated throughout India on Sunday. In New Delhi, residents set off firecrackers through the evening despite restrictions intended to limit their impact on air quality. Smoke from the celebrations added to the pollutants already accumulating in the atmosphere during the city’s seasonal pollution period.
India’s Supreme Court had imposed limits on Diwali fireworks last month. Its restrictions permitted only approved green firecrackers, subject to specified conditions, during three-hour windows on Saturday and Sunday. Those approved products release fewer emissions than other firecrackers, but they still cause pollution and are not free of environmental impact.
The capital’s air was already heavily polluted before the festival began. On Wednesday, several days ahead of Diwali, readings from air monitors showed toxic air pollution rising to more than 30 times the WHO’s recommended daily limit. The post-celebration smog therefore compounded a problem that was already evident earlier in the week.
Winter conditions make New Delhi’s pollution harder to disperse. Cooler temperatures combine with low wind speeds and stagnant atmospheric conditions to keep pollutants from moving away. The resulting haze can remain over the capital and nearby areas for days, extending the period in which the region is blanketed by polluted air.
Firecrackers are one source of pollution alongside other contributors to the winter crisis. According to India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, vehicles account for 23 percent of New Delhi’s winter pollution. Biomass burning, which includes fires used to burn farm stubble, contributes another 20 percent. These emissions add to the pollution trapped by the season’s atmospheric conditions.
