Diwali fireworks push New Delhi pollution to nearly 59 times WHO limit

Air pollution in parts of New Delhi exceeded the World Health Organization’s recommended daily limit by more than 58 times after the Hindu festival of Diwali, LRT reported on Monday, citing air quality monitoring data.

About eight hours after the heaviest fireworks, PM2.5 concentrations in the Mandir Marg district reached 879 micrograms per cubic metre early on Monday, IQAir said, citing data from a city government monitoring station. That was nearly 59 times the WHO’s recommended maximum daily level.

Millions of people celebrate Diwali with fireworks each year in the Indian capital, worsening winter smog already linked to vehicle emissions, crop residue burning and industrial pollution. India’s Supreme Court allowed limited use of so-called green fireworks during the festival this month, but restrictions are routinely ignored, with explosions heard across the city.

Authorities have restricted traffic and construction in recent weeks to curb smog in New Delhi, which has more than 30 million residents. India’s environment ministry says vehicles account for 23% of Delhi’s winter pollution, while biomass burning, including crop stubble, contributes 20% and industry, including coal-fired power plants, about 9%. The largest share, 27%, comes from secondary particles formed in the atmosphere through reactions involving gases emitted by vehicles, industry, power plants and biomass burning.

A 2024 study published in The Lancet Planetary Health estimated that air pollution was associated with 3.8 million deaths in India between 2009 and 2019.