Air pollution over 50 times WHO limit in parts of Delhi as people defy ban on firecrackers on Deepavali

As Delhiites burst firecrackers well past the 10 p.m. deadline set by the Supreme Court for Deepavali night, air pollution shot up to over 50 times World Health Organisation (WHO) limits in parts of the city, official data showed.

The level of PM2.5 (a major pollutant) in Akshardham was 760.99 micrograms per cubic meter at 11 p.m. on Sunday (November 8, 2026), as per Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) data. This is about 50.73 times the WHO permissible limit of 15 micrograms per cubic meter for a 24-hour period.

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PM2.5 (Particulate Matter 2.5) are fine inhalable particles, which can get into lungs and bloodstream and lead to a range of respiratory and other diseases.

The level of PM2.5 in Anand Vihar was 767 micrograms per cubic meter at 11 p.m. on Sunday (November 8, 2026), as per DPCC data — This is about 51.13 times the WHO permissible limit.

The level of PM2.5 in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was 702 micrograms per cubic meter, as per DPCC data, which is about 46.8 times the WHO permissible limit.

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The overall air quality of Delhi continued to be in the “very poor” category while many parts of the city continued to reel under “severe” air quality.

Every winter, air pollution spikes in Delhi-NCR and many parts of the larger Indo-Gangetic Plains, mainly due to meteorological factors such as lower wind speeds and a drop in temperature. Also, pollution from stubble burning during October and November and bursting of firecrackers during the festive season add to existing pollution from vehicles and dust, worsening the air quality.