There were huge fireworks in Delhi on Diwali night, the air turned poisonous; AQI reaches 'Red Zone' - Delhi Diwali air pollution AQI reaches severe levels after fireworks

Updated: Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:14 (IST) Air quality has deteriorated badly due to fireworks in Delhi on Diwali evening. Most monitoring stations recorded pollution levels in the ‘red zone’. Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 344, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category. Authorities implemented a graded response action plan to control pollution and urged people to exercise caution. There has been a major decline in the air quality of the city due to fireworks on the occasion of Diwali. PTI, New Delhi. There was a major drop in the air quality of the city due to fireworks on the occasion of Diwali in Delhi on Monday evening. Most air quality monitoring stations showed pollution levels in the ‘red zone’, indicating the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ category. By 10 pm, Delhi’s overall air quality index (AQI) stood at 344, which is in the ‘very poor’ category, while the AQI was ‘severe’ (above 400) at four stations. Remove Ads Read Only News According to the SAMEER app developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality was ‘severe’ in Dwarka (417), Ashok Vihar (404), Wazirpur (423) and Anand Vihar (404). Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI, reported at 4 pm daily, remained in the ‘very poor’ category at 345, up from Sunday’s 326. In the afternoon, 31 out of 38 stations recorded ‘very poor’ air quality, while three stations were in the ‘severe’ category. Delhi’s air quality is likely to deteriorate further and reach the ‘severe’ category on Tuesday and Wednesday. According to the CPCB, AQI is classified between 0-50 ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’ and 401-500 ‘severe’. According to Decision Support System (DSS) data, transport emissions contributed 15.6 percent to Delhi’s air pollution on Monday, while other factors, including industries, contributed 23.3 percent. On Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implemented Phase II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR. Authorities urged people to be careful when using fireworks and to use public transport to reduce pollution. The administration and concerned departments are monitoring and taking action to control the rising pollution levels in Delhi.