{
  "id": 19152550,
  "title": "At peak of air pollution on Deepavali night, data goes missing at several govt monitoring stations in Delhi",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/at-peak-of-air-pollution-on-deepavali-night-data-goes-missing-at-19152550",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-09T12:35:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu - Sci-Tech",
    "slug": "the-hindu-sci-tech",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/at-peak-of-air-pollution-on-deepavali-night-data-goes-missing-at-several-govt-monitoring-stations-in-delhi/article71682391.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "During the peak of air pollution on Deepavali night, several government monitoring stations in Delhi experienced a lapse in air quality data, sparking concerns about the true extent of pollution levels. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported blank readings for numerous stations, with data from PM2.5 (fine inhalable particles) notably absent for several hours in locations such as Anand Vihar, Patparganj, and Bawana.\n\nExperts have raised questions over the missing data, pointing out that it artificially lowers the Air Quality Index (AQI), making the actual air quality appear to be better than it is. According to Manoj Kumar, analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, \"Since midnight on November 8 until 5 a.m. on November 9, 227 hourly PM2.5 observations were missing across 59 CPCB monitoring stations in Delhi.\"\n\nThe air quality in parts of Delhi was reported to be 173.13 times above the WHO permissible limit during the Deepavali night, with the level of PM2.5 in Patparganj at 2,597 micrograms per cubic metre at 1 a.m. on November 9, 2026. The CPCB website displayed a cap at 1,000 micrograms per cubic metre for PM2.5, which raised concerns about the representation of extreme pollution concentrations.\n\nBoth the AAP and Congress parties criticized the BJP government over the missing data, with the AAP alleging \"data fraud\" and the BJP suggesting a \"conspiracy\" by AAP-governed Punjab to set stubble on fire in Punjab on the eve of Deepavali. The Delhi Labour Minister, Kapil Mishra, stated that the government would investigate the issue within an hour and provide further details to the media.",
  "summary": "“When the hourly PM2.5 data is missing, it will artificially lower the Air Quality Index (AQI), showing better air quality, when the actual air quality is worse,” Manoj Kumar, analyst, Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said",
  "key_points": [
    "Missing PM2.5 data from 227 hourly observations across 59 CPCB monitoring stations.",
    "Critics accuse BJP government of data fraud and conspiracy by AAP-governed Punjab."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "BJP alleges conspiracy to worsen Delhi pollution, claims Punjab farm fires were ‘deliberate’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/bjp-alleges-conspiracy-to-worsen-delhi-pollution-claims-punjab-farm",
        "published": "2026-11-09T11:58:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}