Diwali Fireworks Set to Worsen Delhi’s Already Toxic Air as Pollution Ranks Soar

As New Delhi gears up for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, officials warn that celebratory fireworks could worsen the city’s already hazardous air quality this week, despite a recent dip in pollution from stubble burning in nearby states.

New Delhi, ranked the world’s most polluted capital for four consecutive years by Swiss firm IQAir, was the world’s second-most polluted city on Tuesday, following Lahore in Pakistan. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai highlighted the urgency of addressing pollution from firecrackers, telling ANI, “The incidents of stubble burning are decreasing, but…the smoke created by firecrackers needs to be controlled.”

Traditionally, farmers in surrounding areas burn crop stubble after harvesting paddy to prepare fields for wheat planting, a practice often blamed for Delhi’s toxic smog in winter. This year, though, stubble-burning incidents have dropped, with Punjab and Haryana—two of India’s major agricultural hubs—reporting a 35% and 21% decrease, respectively, compared to the same period last year, according to the Agriculture Ministry.

But air quality remains precarious. Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) was measured at 273 on Tuesday—far above the ‘good’ rating, which is set below 50. The Central Pollution Control Board forecasts that the index will plunge further into ‘very poor’ territory, ranging from 301 to 400, during Diwali from Wednesday to Friday. On particularly polluted days, the AQI could spike to ‘severe’ levels, between 401 and 500, due to firecracker emissions and waste burning, the Ministry of Earth Sciences reported.

Looking ahead, air quality is expected to stay between ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories for at least six days following the festival. While stubble burning’s pollution contribution has recently declined to about 3%—down from 16% just last week—vehicle emissions and other sources are now playing a larger role in the capital’s hazardous air, the Ministry’s data revealed.

In light of the growing crisis, the Supreme Court has called on Delhi and neighboring states to take decisive action, reiterating that a pollution-free environment is a “fundamental right” for all citizens.