NEW DELHI – Air pollution in India’s capital has surged to hazardous levels, making New Delhi the most polluted major city in the world, according to Swiss-based air quality monitor IQAir. The spike follows Diwali festivities, during which fireworks and firecrackers contributed heavily to the smog.
Iconic sites such as the India Gate War Memorial and Akshardham Temple were shrouded in thick haze, visible in drone imagery showing a murky skyline. While India’s Supreme Court recently allowed the use of “green crackers” for up to three hours on Sunday and Monday, reporters observed fireworks being set off outside the approved times. Green crackers emit 30–50% less pollution than conventional fireworks.
IQAir recorded New Delhi’s PM2.5 level at 442, exceeding the WHO annual guideline by 59 times, while India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) rated the city’s AQI at 350 (“Very Poor”), where 0–50 is considered good.
Meteorologists warn that air quality is unlikely to improve over the next few days, with forecasts indicating “Very Poor to Poor” conditions, and AQI levels between 201 and 400. Seasonal factors—including cold, stagnant air, vehicle emissions, construction dust, and crop residue burning—make New Delhi and surrounding areas prone to thick smog each winter, affecting the respiratory health of roughly 20 million residents. (TNA)
