Delhi’s air worsens post-Diwali despite fewer farm fires

Delhi’s air worsens post-Diwali despite fewer farm fires

Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply on Tuesday, with PM2.5 levels soaring to 488 µg/m³ — over double pre-Diwali levels — as firecracker smoke choked the city, even though farm fires in Punjab and Haryana declined notably.

Delhi’s Air Quality Crashes to Five-Year Low After Diwali Despite 77% Drop in Punjab-Haryana Farm Fires

New Delhi: Delhi woke up to a thick, choking haze on Tuesday morning, as the city’s air quality plunged to its worst post-Diwali level in five years. According to an analysis of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the Air Quality Index (AQI) sank deep into the “severe” category, marking another grim reminder of the capital’s annual pollution crisis.

The report, released by Climate Trends, a research organisation specialising in environmental and climate change issues, revealed that PM 2.5 levels averaged 488 µg/m³ — a shocking 212% spike compared to pre-Diwali readings. This level of pollution is nearly eight times higher than the safe limit prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO), turning Delhi’s festive skies into a health hazard.

What makes this year’s situation especially troubling is that it comes despite a dramatic 77% decline in stubble-burning incidents across Punjab and Haryana this October. The drop, attributed largely to unprecedented floods in the agrarian states that disrupted the harvest cycle, was expected to bring some relief to Delhi’s air. But instead, the Capital’s post-Diwali atmosphere turned out to be even more toxic.

Firecrackers Still the Main Villain

The findings of the Climate Trends report suggest that while farm fires have historically contributed to Delhi’s winter smog, firecracker emissions remain the leading cause of short-term AQI spikes during Diwali. Despite repeated bans and awareness campaigns, the bursting of crackers continued well into the night on Diwali, filling the air with dense smoke and fine particulate matter.

“Even though stubble burning has declined significantly this year, Delhi’s air quality collapsed right after Diwali. This indicates that firecracker pollution continues to dominate short-term air quality deterioration,” the report noted.

Experts also pointed out that unfavourable weather conditions — including low wind speed, high humidity, and temperature inversion — prevented pollutants from dispersing, trapping toxic particles close to the ground.

Political Blame Game Erupts

As Delhi’s residents struggled to breathe, a political storm erupted between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over who bears responsibility for the capital’s worsening air.

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa accused AAP of encouraging stubble burning in Punjab, where the party is also in power. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Sirsa alleged that farmers in several districts were being pressured to burn crop residue ahead of Diwali.

Displaying videos purportedly showing stubble burning in Tarn Taran and Bathinda. “Notice how people’s faces are covered.

The BJP leader’s remarks quickly drew a sharp rebuttal from AAP Delhi president and former minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, who accused the government of failing to implement effective pollution control measures.

“Instead of playing politics, the BJP should focus on what it has failed to do — control pollution,” Bharadwaj said. Where is it? Why are people still gasping for breath?”

Bharadwaj added that AAP had been consistently implementing measures such as smog towers, the odd-even vehicle rule, and dust control drives, but argued that “firecracker smoke and weak enforcement at the national level” were undoing local efforts.

Experts Call for Broader Solutions

Environmentalists believe that this year’s data highlights an important truth — that while reducing farm fires is crucial, it alone cannot solve Delhi’s pollution nightmare. According to experts, urban sources like firecrackers, vehicular emissions, and construction dust contribute significantly to the capital’s poor air quality during winter.

Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said, “We have focused too narrowly on stubble burning, but the larger issue lies within the city itself. The Diwali spike clearly shows that local sources are enough to push pollution to hazardous levels when weather conditions turn stagnant.”

She added that stricter enforcement of cracker bans, investment in clean public transport, and real-time pollution control systems are needed to make a lasting difference.

The Road Ahead

As the smog thickened and air purifiers whirred across homes and offices, Delhi once again found itself in the familiar grip of a post-Diwali pollution emergency. With the winter months ahead — when air quality typically worsens due to temperature drops and limited wind flow — experts warn that the situation may deteriorate further if urgent measures are not taken.

The message from this year’s data is clear: even when nature helps by reducing one major pollutant source, human negligence can still darken the skies. The festival of lights has once again ended with a shadow — one that hangs heavy over the lungs of millions.