Experts say that if firecrackers are burned beyond the permitted hours, air quality will deteriorate even more rapidly.
Published: October 19, 2025 4:45 PM IST
New Delhi: With the onset of winter, air quality in the capital Delhi has remained “poor” for five consecutive days, and the situation is expected to worsen in the coming days. On Tuesday, October 21, the day after Diwali, the air quality index could reach the “severe” category (above 400) due to firecracker smoke. The AQI is expected to remain in the “very poor” category on Monday, October 20.
Experts say that if firecrackers are burned beyond the permitted hours (6 to 7 am and 8 to 10 pm), air quality will deteriorate even more rapidly. The Air Quality Early Warning System, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has predicted that pollution levels could reach “severe” on October 21 and remain in the “poor” to “severe” category for six days thereafter.
Pollution increases after Diwali
Data from previous years shows that pollution after Diwali was caused by a combination of stubble burning, local pollution, firecrackers, and bad weather. However, this year, experts believe that the delayed harvest due to floods in Punjab may have mitigated the impact of stubble burning. Gufran Beig, scientist and programme director, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), said that harvesting has not yet fully begun and wind directions are still changing, so the impact of smoke from Punjab and Haryana is likely to be less this time.
However, he warned that burning too many firecrackers, whether traditional or green, could push Delhi’s AQI into the “severe” category the day after Diwali. Beig also said, “The good news is that strong winds are expected on Tuesday due to La Niña, which could help disperse pollutants and bring the AQI into the “very poor” category by the end of the day.”
Firecrackers will worsen the problem
Social activists and health experts are expressing concern about increased pollution after Diwali. Activist Bhavreen Kandhari said, “Delhi’s air is already ‘poor’ and the odds are against us. Right now, the wind speed is slow, the temperature is dropping, and there’s a thin layer trapping pollutants near the ground.”
She further said, “Firecrackers—even those labeled ‘green’—release sulfur, heavy metals, and fine particles like PM2.5. In stagnant winter air, even limited use exacerbates the problem, creating smog and a public health emergency that can last for days.”
According to the CPCB, an AQI of 0-50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and above 400 ‘severe’.
Also Read:
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: india.com
