Delhi’s Air Pollution Crisis: 69% Families Report Health Impacts Delhi experienced extremely hazardous air quality during Diwali, with PM2.5 levels soaring to alarming concentrations of 603 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) at midnight on October 31. This figure marks an increase of nearly 13 percent compared to the peak levels recorded during Diwali in both 2022 and 2023, as reported by the Centre for Science & Environment (CSE).

Diwali was celebrated on October 24 in 2022 and November 12 in 2023. The air quality in the national capital remained consistently poor in the week leading up to the festival, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) fluctuating between 300 and 390. PM2.5 levels rose sharply in the days prior to Diwali, climbing nearly 46 percent from October 28 to October 31, coinciding with the peak usage of firecrackers.

According to Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director at CSE, and environmental researcher Sharanjeet Kaur, PM2.5 concentrations this year were more than double the average night-time pollution recorded in the week leading up to Diwali. The Air Quality Forecasting System, managed by IITM Pune, had also warned of extreme pollution levels on October 31 and November 1 due to increased emissions from firecrackers and stubble burning. Alarmingly, pollution levels remained high during the daytime on Diwali, with PM2.5 levels nearly 92 percent higher than last year’s daytime average, reflecting a significant rise in both local and regional pollution, exacerbated by a spike in farm fires.

Of the 38 air quality monitoring stations, nine recorded PM2.5 levels surpassing the critical threshold of 900 µg/m³, with the highest readings at Nehru Nagar (994 µg/m³), Anand Vihar (992 µg/m³), Pusa IMD (985 µg/m³), Wazirpur (980 µg/m³), and JLN Stadium (963 µg/m³). In addition to PM2.5, higher levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were observed this year compared to last, indicating increased traffic congestion on the festival night. Researchers noted that NO2 levels have consistently been higher on Diwali night and the nights leading up to it over the past three years.

Delhi’s Air Pollution Crisis: 69% Families Report Health Impacts The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that October 2024 was the warmest October since 1901. Fortunately, this relatively warm weather, coupled with adequate winds, facilitated a quicker dissipation of pollutants compared to previous years, preventing the formation of a smog episode, which typically occurs when the AQI remains in the ‘severe’ category for at least three consecutive days.

On October 31, the AQI was categorized as ‘poor’ in the afternoon, deteriorating to ‘severe’ levels by midnight and remaining elevated until the early hours of November 1 before gradually decreasing to moderate levels by afternoon. However, air pollution in Delhi is projected to worsen in the coming days as temperatures drop. There was a sudden surge in farm fire incidents on Diwali, with north-westerly winds contributing to a 27 percent increase in their impact on Delhi’s air quality.

According to data from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), the number of farm fires surged from 380 on October 30 to 605 on October 31, and then to 983 on November 1, with Punjab responsible for 80 percent of these fires, followed by Uttar Pradesh (13 percent) and Haryana (7 percent).

Experts emphasized that Delhi’s air quality has deteriorated from ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ even when the contribution of smoke from farm fires was relatively low, at 1-3 percent this season. This highlights the significant impact of local air pollution sources that require urgent and large-scale mitigation efforts.

Delhi’s Air Pollution Crisis: 69% Families Report Health Impacts Experts predict that wind speeds in Delhi will remain high throughout Saturday, providing relief from air pollution, but will calm down on Sunday. Following Diwali, Delhi’s air quality improved to the ‘poor’ category on Saturday, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 291 at 8 AM, a significant improvement from the AQI of 339 (very poor) recorded at 4 PM on Friday. This improvement occurred despite widespread violations of the firecracker ban on Thursday and Friday evenings.

Before Diwali celebrations began on Thursday, the AQI stood at 328, remaining relatively stable until around 9 PM, after which it began to worsen progressively, reaching 362 by 9 AM on Friday. However, thanks to strong surface winds of 10-15 km/h and unseasonably high temperatures, the air quality started to improve again. The AQI was recorded at 354 at noon on Friday, then dropped to 339 by 4 PM, and improved to 314 by 10 PM that night.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) categorizes AQI readings from 0-50 as “good,” 51-100 as “satisfactory,” 101-200 as “moderate,” 201-300 as “poor,” 301-400 as “very poor,” and anything above 400 as “severe.” These readings, however, are based on 24-hour averages. In real-time measurements, PM2.5 levels spiked dramatically, reaching over 1,800 µg/m³ in certain residential areas on Thursday night, which underscores the severe impact of firecrackers on air quality. The World Health Organization recommends a safe PM2.5 exposure limit of 15 µg/m³, while India’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards set it at 60 µg/m³.

Experts noted that strong winds helped disperse pollutants effectively. These winds were steady during Diwali and continued on Friday, with speeds ranging from 12-16 km/h until 6 PM on Thursday, dropping slightly overnight but picking up again to around 10 km/h on Friday morning.

Delhi’s Air Pollution Crisis: 69% Families Report Health Impacts Data analysis revealed the extent of pollution spikes due to firecrackers. For example, at the Nehru Nagar monitoring station, PM2.5 levels surged from 101 µg/m³ to 898 µg/m³ by 11 PM, a near nine-fold increase. Similarly, at Anand Vihar, PM2.5 peaked at 992 µg/m³ at 1 AM, more than seven times the 135 µg/m³ recorded at 6 PM. Instant readings showed even more alarming levels, with 1,853 µg/m³ at Vivek Vihar and 1,527 µg/m³ at Nehru Nagar.

These spikes are primarily attributed to firecracker usage, particularly when comparing readings from Narela and Najafgarh, two industrial zones that saw minimal activity during the celebrations. Najafgarh recorded a peak of about 247 µg/m³, while Narela reached around 260 µg/m³, reflecting only moderate increases.

Additional data highlighted widespread violations of the firecracker ban, with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) reporting that out of 31 ambient noise monitoring stations, 22 recorded higher noise levels this Diwali than last year. The highest noise levels were observed in central Delhi’s Karol Bagh, averaging 88.7 dB (A), which is approximately 5% higher than the average of 84.5 dB (A) from the previous year.

Mahesh Palawat, vice president at Skymet Meteorology, expressed concern that the air quality improvement may be temporary, anticipating calmer winds on Sunday which could lead to a buildup of local pollutants again. “As long as we have these winds, the AQI should benefit, but by Sunday, calm winds will likely lead to the accumulation of pollutants,” he said.

Delhi’s Air Pollution Crisis: 69% Families Report Health Impacts A recent survey highlights a concerning trend in Delhi’s air quality, revealing that 69% of families in the region report health issues linked to pollution. As Delhi-NCR grapples with deteriorating air quality, many families are experiencing ailments such as sore throats and coughing.

On Diwali night, the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached alarming levels, peaking at 999 in various areas of the national capital. The survey, conducted by Local Circles—a digital platform—gathered responses from over 21,000 residents across Delhi-NCR, shedding light on the significant impact of air pollution on the local population. Findings indicate that 62% of families reported members suffering from burning eyes due to poor air quality, while 46% noted cases of runny noses or nasal congestion.

Additionally, 31% of respondents experienced breathing difficulties or asthma, and another 31% reported headaches. About 23% mentioned feelings of anxiety or difficulty concentrating, and 15% cited sleep disturbances. However, 31% stated that neither they nor their family members faced any pollution-related issues.

Delhi’s Air Pollution Crisis: 69% Families Report Health Impacts The survey warned that with many residents already dealing with coughs and colds, along with pre-existing respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the hazardous AQI levels following Diwali are likely to exacerbate their conditions.

To cope with the worsening air quality, which is currently between 300-500 AQI and expected to increase in the coming week, respondents shared their strategies. Among 10,630 participants, 15% plan to leave the city temporarily, while 9% intend to stay indoors and increase their intake of foods and beverages believed to enhance immunity. Another 23% plan to use air purifiers along with indoor measures.

Responses showed a range of approaches to the pollution crisis. Around 15% of respondents will maintain their usual activities while wearing masks outdoors, and another 15% will combine this with immunity-boosting foods. Only 23% plan to depend on air purifiers, indicating that a significant portion of the population is ready to endure the pollution with minimal intervention.