Delhi air quality dips sharply post-Diwali, warm conditions help keep smog at bay – India News

Favorable atmospheric conditions, including warmer temperatures and efficient wind patterns, prevented the usual Diwali smog episode this year, an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) revealed on Saturday.

However, PM2.5 levels were observed to be 92% higher compared to last Diwali, underscoring the impact of local and regional emissions.

Also Read:Post-Diwali Blues: AQI takes serious hit in Haryana, Punjab and West Bengal

According to the CSE, although there were fewer farm fires, the air quality deteriorated from ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ as Delhi experienced a significant increase in night pollution, which dissipated more rapidly the following day due to the warmer conditions. This rapid clearing avoided a prolonged smog episode—typically defined as three or more consecutive days of severe air quality.

On Diwali night, PM2.5 levels reached 603 µg/m³ by midnight—a 13% increase over the previous two years’ Diwali peaks. The preceding five days had already shown a 46% increase in PM2.5 levels, which peaked sharply on Diwali.

Also Read:AQI today: Delhi’s air quality worsens as post-Diwali smog covers city

The CSE’s report also highlighted critical pollution hotspots where PM2.5 levels exceeded 900 µg/m³ across nine air quality monitoring stations. Nehru Nagar recorded the highest level at 994 µg/m³, followed closely by Anand Vihar and Pusa IMD. Other highly affected areas included Wazirpur, JLN Stadium, Okhla, and Karni Singh Stadium.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations also spiked in key locations, with ITO recording the highest level of 182 µg/m³. The JLN Stadium and Patparganj were also marked as NO2 hotspots, while Lodhi Road remained the least affected.

Authors of the report, Anumita Roychowdhury and Sharanjeet Kaur, attributed the quick dissipation of pollution to the warmer weather and efficient ventilation.

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