Delhi’s air ‘very poor’ on Deepavali eve, 22 stations ‘severe’; CM urges green crackers
The AQI of 369 was the worst Diwali-eve reading since 2016, and forecasters expect it to turn severe on Deepavali. Stage III curbs are in force across the NCR.
Delhi’s air was in the “very poor” category on Saturday, 7 November, the eve of Deepavali, and 22 of the city’s monitoring stations recorded “severe” pollution. Forecasters expect the overall air quality to turn severe on the day of the festival.
The city’s average air quality index (AQI) was 362 at the official afternoon reading, according to The Hindu, and 369 by the evening. Hindustan Times said this was Delhi’s worst Diwali-eve reading since 2016. The worst readings were at IIT Delhi (443) and Punjabi Bagh (433).
Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is not the main cause this time. Its share of the city’s fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution fell to 1.7% on Saturday, from 7.9% a day earlier. That leaves local sources, such as vehicles, dust, industry and waste burning, trapped close to the ground by cool, still air.
The Commission for Air Quality Management invoked Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR on Friday as a precaution. Stage III, meant for an AQI between 301 and 400, bars BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars from Delhi and nearby districts and halts non-essential construction and demolition.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said clean air was the government’s responsibility but needed citizens’ participation. She urged people to use only green crackers and to celebrate with diyas, rangoli and sweets. Resident welfare associations, however, complained that crackers were already being burst without any check.
What it means for your health
At “very poor” levels, long exposure can cause breathing problems even in healthy people; at “severe”, it affects everyone and is dangerous for people with asthma, heart or lung disease. Doctors advise children, older people and those with such conditions to stay indoors, avoid morning and evening walks, and use N95 masks if they must go out.
What’s next
Air quality is usually worst on the morning after Deepavali, once the night’s crackers add to the haze. If the AQI crosses 450, the strictest stage of GRAP, Stage IV, can be imposed.
- Delhi's air stayed close to "severe" on 9 November, the morning after Deepavali, with a city average AQI of 370.
- On Deepavali night, 20 of 59 monitoring stations were "severe"; Sonia Vihar was worst at 463.
- Several Delhi government monitoring stations stopped reporting data at the worst of the night of 8–9 November, which analysts say can make the official AQI look better than the air was.
- Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan has been in force across Delhi-NCR since 6 November.
- Older vehicles registered outside Delhi are to be kept out every winter, from 1 November to 31 January.
What’s next23 November 2026: The Supreme Court hears the case on vehicle pollution in Delhi and three neighbouring States on 23 November.
- 9 Nov 2026Delhi’s air: monitoring stations went silent at the worst of Deepavali night
- 9 Nov 2026Delhi’s air near ‘severe’ the morning after Deepavali; AQI 437 at DTU and Burari
- 8 Nov 2026Delhi air turns severe in 23 areas on Deepavali morning; worse expected after festival
- 8 Nov 2026Older vehicles from outside Delhi to be kept out every winter, 1 November to 31 January
- 8 Nov 2026Delhi’s air ‘very poor’ on Deepavali eve, 22 stations ‘severe’; CM urges green crackers
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