Air Quality Plummets Across Delhi-NCR and Mumbai Following Diwali Celebrations

Delhi's air quality deteriorated to the brink of the 'severe' category on the morning after Diwali, with the AQI touching the 400 mark. Similar hazy conditions and smog were also reported in Mumbai and Lucknow, prompting the continuation of emergency anti-pollution measures under the Graded Response Action Plan.

A day after Diwali celebrations, Delhi's air quality deteriorated significantly on Monday morning, bringing the Air Quality Index (AQI) to the 400 mark and pushing it to the brink of the 'severe' category. A thick layer of smog engulfed several parts of the national capital, notably around the Inderlok area, reducing visibility during the early morning hours.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI reading around Ghazipur stood at 418, which falls into the 'severe' classification, while Akshardham recorded 337, categorised as 'very poor'. Several monitoring stations across Delhi registered AQI levels above 400. The highest reading was recorded at Burari Crossing at 441, followed by Vivek Vihar at 437, Delhi Technological University (DTU) at 434, North Campus of Delhi University and Jahangirpuri at 433 each, and Rohini at 430. Other locations crossing the severe threshold included Mundka at 417, Punjabi Bagh at 409, NIH Narela at 407, and ITO at 407.

Additional monitoring stations recorded varying levels of pollution, with CRRI Mathura Road at 396, Aya Nagar at 386, Talkatora Garden at 384, NSUT Jaffarpur at 378, Lodhi Road at 370, Mandir Marg at 369, Wazirpur at 365, R K Puram at 364, Badarpur at 363, IHBAS Dilshad Garden at 363, and Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range at 361. Najafgarh registered 340, Anand Vihar 335, IMD Lodhi Road 323, Ashok Vihar 319, and Sri Aurobindo Marg 267. Data for IIT Delhi and Dwarka Sector 8 was unavailable.

The worsening air quality follows the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) decision on Friday to invoke Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR, three days ahead of Diwali. The emergency action plan applies across Delhi and the adjoining districts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, operating as a precautionary measure based on forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).

GRAP is a four-stage emergency framework coordinated by the CAQM, CPCB, and regional state governments. Stage I targets road dust, pollution norms, and open waste burning for AQI levels between 201 and 300. Stage II brings dust-control measures, higher parking fees, and staggered office timings for AQI between 301 and 400. Stage III applies when the AQI hits 401-450, introducing stricter vehicle curbs, construction halts, and hybrid learning for primary students. Stage IV initiates restrictions on heavy goods vehicles and emergency industrial measures when AQI exceeds 450.

Beyond the national capital, other urban centers also experienced deteriorating air quality. Mumbai witnessed hazy conditions with thick smog blanketing the Kalanagar and Bandra areas. Kherwadi-Bandra East recorded an AQI of 264, Sewri 226, Ghatkopar 221, Chembur 216, Byculla 193, Mindspace-Malad West 191, Kandivali West 187, Worli 148, and Kurla 96. In Uttar Pradesh, a thick layer of smog similarly blanketed Lucknow during the morning hours.

"Environmental challenges like severe air pollution across major metropolitan areas directly impact urban mobility, workforce productivity, and operational continuity for businesses. As regulatory frameworks such as GRAP introduce stringent restrictions on construction, transportation, and industrial activities, companies operating in affected regions must factor these recurring seasonal disruptions into their operational planning and business continuity strategies." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes