Indian Cities Record Hazardous Air Quality After Diwali Celebrations
Bhubaneswar, Delhi, and Hyderabad experienced hazardous air pollution levels following Diwali celebrations, with widespread monitoring station failures complicating official data collection.
Air quality plummeted to hazardous levels across several major Indian cities following Diwali celebrations on November 8, 2026. In Bhubaneswar, the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 1,091 on Sunday night, surpassing Delhi's levels at the same time and recording a PM2.5 concentration of 622 micrograms per cubic metre.
Delhi recorded its third-worst Diwali pollution since 2021, with a daily average AQI of 376 marking a five-year high despite Stage III Graded Response Action Plan restrictions. The Commission for Air Quality Management identified secondary particulate matter as the primary contributor to the city's pollution. However, data collection was severely hindered; more than half of the city's monitoring stations stopped reporting around midnight. Congress leader Ajay Maken alleged that 25 of 39 stations failed to record PM2.5 readings between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on November 9, noting that available data showed levels 38.4 times the World Health Organisation limit.
Hyderabad also saw hazardous spikes, with an average AQI of 509 on Sunday evening. Localized peaks were more extreme, with Ravi Colony recording an AQI of 995. Residents reported breathing discomfort and eye irritation caused by thick smoke and chemical smells. The Telangana Pollution Control Board attributed the spike to firecrackers but admitted that technical failures, including an offline station at the University of Hyderabad, prevented independent confirmation of the highest readings.
