Heavy smog has blanketed New Delhi after firecrackers lit up the Indian capital during Diwali celebrations, worsening the seasonal pollution crisis, Al Jazeera reports.
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, was celebrated across India on Sunday. Despite restrictions on fireworks, New Delhi residents celebrated with firecrackers throughout Sunday evening, releasing smoke and fine particulate matter into the atmosphere.
On Monday morning, the Air Quality Index exceeded 350 in several parts of the capital, categorised as “severe” and posing significant health risks, according to the WHO’s recommended exposure thresholds.
Last month, India’s Supreme Court put in place restrictions to limit Diwali pollution, allowing only approved “green firecrackers” under specified conditions for three-hour windows on Saturday and Sunday. The approved crackers produce fewer emissions but are not pollution-free.
On Wednesday, days before Diwali, toxic air pollution in New Delhi surged to more than 30 times the WHO’s recommended daily limit, data from air monitors showed. New Delhi, home to 30 million people, persistently ranks among the world’s most polluted capital cities. The issue is exacerbated during winter, when cooler temperatures, low wind speeds and stagnant atmospheric conditions prevent pollutants from dispersing.
Vehicles account for 23 percent of New Delhi’s winter pollution, while biomass burning, including farm stubble fires, contributes 20 percent, according to India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The severe smog poses immediate health risks to 30 million residents, with the Air Quality Index exceeding levels deemed hazardous by the WHO.
- The failure of firecracker restrictions to prevent severe pollution highlights the challenge of enforcing environmental regulations during major cultural festivals.
- New Delhi's persistent ranking among the world's most polluted capitals underscores a recurring public health crisis that seasonal conditions and policy measures have yet to resolve.
Background
New Delhi suffers a seasonal pollution crisis each winter, when cooler temperatures and stagnant air trap pollutants from vehicles, biomass burning, and firecrackers. Despite the Supreme Court's ban on conventional fireworks and its approval of only "green firecrackers" for limited hours, widespread non-compliance during Diwali contributes to hazardous air quality.
Key Perspectives
WHO: categorises AQI above 350 as "severe", posing significant health risks.
India's Supreme Court: put in place restrictions allowing only approved "green firecrackers" under specified conditions for three-hour windows.
India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: attributes 23 percent of New Delhi's winter pollution to vehicles and 20 percent to biomass burning, including farm stubble fires.
What to Watch
- Whether the Supreme Court tightens Diwali firecracker regulations further next year.
- The duration of the current smog event, as stagnant conditions can keep haze over the capital for days.
- Enforcement actions against firecracker use and farm stubble burning in the coming weeks.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedDiwali firecrackers worsened New Delhi’s seasonal pollution crisis.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Heavy smog has blanketed New Delhi after firecrackers lit up the Indian capital during Diwali celebrations , worsening the seasonal pollution crisis.”
- SupportedOn Monday morning, the AQI exceeded 350 in several parts of the capital and was categorised as “severe”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “On Monday morning, the Air Quality Index exceeded 350 in several parts of the capital, categorised as “severe””
- SupportedThe AQI level posed significant health risks according to WHO-recommended exposure thresholds.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “posing significant health risks, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended exposure thresholds.”
- SupportedIndia’s Supreme Court restrictions allowed only approved “green firecrackers” under specified conditions.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “India’s Supreme Court put in place restrictions to limit Diwali pollution, allowing only approved “green firecrackers” under specified conditions”
- SupportedThe restrictions allowed fireworks during three-hour windows on Saturday and Sunday.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “for three-hour windows on Saturday and Sunday.”
- SupportedDiwali was celebrated across India on Sunday.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, was celebrated across India on Sunday.”
- SupportedNew Delhi residents set off firecrackers throughout Sunday evening, releasing smoke and fine particulate matter.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “New Delhi residents celebrated the festival of lights with firecrackers throughout Sunday evening, releasing smoke and fine particulate matter into the atmosphere.”
- SupportedOn Wednesday, days before Diwali, New Delhi’s toxic air pollution surged to more than 30 times the WHO’s recommended daily limit, according to air-monitor data.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “On Wednesday, days before Diwali, toxic air pollution in New Delhi surged to more than 30 times the WHO’s recommended daily limit, data from air monitors showed.”
- SupportedNew Delhi has 30 million people and persistently ranks among the world’s most polluted capital cities.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “New Delhi, home to 30 million people, persistently ranks among the world’s most polluted capital cities.”
- SupportedCooler temperatures, low wind speeds and stagnant atmospheric conditions prevent pollutants from dispersing in winter.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The issue is exacerbated during the winter, when cooler temperatures, low wind speeds and stagnant atmospheric conditions prevent pollutants from dispersing.”
- SupportedVehicles account for 23 percent of New Delhi’s winter pollution, according to India’s environment ministry.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Vehicles account for 23 percent of New Delhi’s winter pollution, while biomass burning, including farm stubble fires, contributes 20 percent, according to India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.”
- SupportedBiomass burning, including farm stubble fires, contributes 20 percent of New Delhi’s winter pollution, according to India’s environment ministry.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Vehicles account for 23 percent of New Delhi’s winter pollution, while biomass burning, including farm stubble fires, contributes 20 percent, according to India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.”