Post-Diwali Smog Grips Delhi-NCR as Air Quality Turns Hazardous
A thick toxic smog engulfed Delhi and surrounding NCR regions on October 21, 2025, the day after Diwali, as air quality levels plummeted to dangerous levels. Despite official curbs on firecrackers, widespread Diwali celebrations saw skies lit up late into the night, sending pollutant levels soaring. By Tuesday morning, Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) had crossed 346, falling in the ‘Very Poor’ category, with several localities like Bawana, Wazirpur, and Jahangirpuri breaching the 400 mark, entering the ‘Severe’ zone.
The spike was further worsened by seasonal stubble burning in neighbouring states and weather conditions that trapped pollutants close to the surface. Calm winds, low temperatures, and atmospheric inversion created a suffocating blanket of smog. Authorities have invoked Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), bringing in restrictions on construction and vehicular emissions. Health experts have urged vulnerable groups to stay indoors as the capital gasps for clean air once again.
