As Delhi’s air turned toxic on Diwali, 45 monitoring stations had missing readings

On Monday, November 9, the air quality in Delhi, India, plummeted to a severe level following the Hindu festival of Diwali, according to a report from DW. Nineteen Indian sailors, who had been stranded in Yemen for nearly two weeks, were evacuated and reported to be in good health. The city of New Delhi and surrounding areas experienced an unprecedented spike in air pollution, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) surpassing the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended 24-hour average limit by a staggering 50 times.

This is due to the increased burning of fine particulate matter, such as PM 2.5, released by celebratory fireworks during Diwali. India's Supreme Court had previously banned conventional firecrackers on Diwali eve, but the ban was largely ignored. The city has long struggled with seasonal air pollution caused by vehicular emissions, crop-burning, and industrial activities.