Overview
- Official CPCB data showed a citywide AQI around 359 by late morning Tuesday, with 34–36 of 38 monitoring stations in the very poor to severe range.
- Hotspots such as Wazirpur, Jahangirpuri and Bawana crossed 400 on the CPCB scale, while private trackers reported localized overnight spikes above 1,000–1,300 at central Delhi sites.
- Several official stations displayed missing readings for hours overnight, a pattern experts link to instrument saturation during peak pollution.
- Stage II of the GRAP restrictions remains in force across Delhi‑NCR, with the weather office noting weak winds and temperature inversions that trap pollutants near the surface.
- The surge followed the Supreme Court’s time‑limited allowance for certified green crackers, with reports of violations and fake labels, a renewed BJP–AAP blame exchange over stubble burning and enforcement, and residents reporting breathing and eye irritation.