Overview
- Air-quality monitor IQAir reported PM2.5 peaking at 846 µg/m³ at dawn Tuesday before easing to 320 µg/m³, equivalent to roughly 56 times and then 23 times the WHO daily guideline.
- The surge followed widespread fireworks during Diwali, despite a recent Supreme Court move replacing a prior total ban with so-called green fireworks that are intended to emit fewer pollutants.
- Authorities warned conditions could deteriorate in coming days and asked for uninterrupted electricity to reduce reliance on diesel generators.
- Delhi officials said they will attempt cloud seeding by aircraft this month to induce rain, noting pilots were trained and test flights occurred in early October.
- Smog builds each winter as colder, stagnant air traps emissions from industry, traffic and crop burning, contributing to severe health impacts documented in studies such as The Lancet’s estimate of 1.67 million pollution-related deaths in India in 2019.