Overview
- Citywide AQI held in the very poor to severe range on Tuesday (351–359), with 35 of 38 CPCB stations in the red zone and hotspots like Bawana, Wazirpur and Jahangirpuri above 400.
- Real-time monitors showed extreme spikes as PM2.5 climbed through the night to 675 µg/m³, private trackers reported AQI readings above 1,000, and several DPCC stations missed data during peak hours consistent with saturation.
- The Supreme Court’s limited window for certified green firecrackers was widely flouted, illegal or fake‑labelled crackers were reported, and experts said per‑cracker cuts were negated by sheer volume.
- Authorities kept GRAP Stage II measures in force, police registered over 100 cases for bursting and more than 50 for illegal sale, and hospitals reported over 250 burn injuries including 129 at Safdarjung.
- BJP and AAP figures exchanged blame between stubble burning in Punjab and weak enforcement in Delhi, while forecasts indicated elevated pollution could persist for several days.