Delhi's Air Quality Worsens To 'Very Poor' On Diwali Morning

Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) woke up to toxic air on Diwali morning with the air quality index (AQI) worsening to the "very poor" category.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city recorded an AQI of 335 at 8 am after people burst crackers, causing severe noise pollution and blanketing the national capital in smoke.

Out of approximately 38 monitoring stations in Delhi, most recorded AQI levels above 300 ("very poor"), while Anand Vihar (414) and Wazirpur (407) were in the "severe" category.

#WATCH | Visuals from the India Gate as GRAP-2 invoked in Delhi.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) around the India Gate was recorded at 347, in the 'Severe' category, in Delhi this morning as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). pic.twitter.com/5gbpOvT5hp

— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2025

#WATCH | Visuals from Akshardham temple as GRAP-2 invoked in Delhi.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) around Akshardham was recorded at 411, in the 'Severe' category, in Delhi this morning as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). pic.twitter.com/QD5N2oWJDM

— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2025

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 to 100 "satisfactory", 101 to 200 "moderate", 201 to 300 "poor", 301 to 400 "very poor", and 401 to 500 "severe".

The Board's forecast for the coming days indicates a similar trend, with the air quality expected to deteriorate further into the "severe" category on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Supreme Court last Wednesday permitted the sale and bursting of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR during Diwali with certain conditions.

It confined the use of green crackers to specific hours -- 6 am to 7 pm and 8 am to 10 pm -- on the day before Diwali and on the festival day itself.

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