Environment · 2026-11-04 · Afternoon briefing

Delhi air quality hits 'very poor' as Diwali nears

Air quality in Delhi has plunged into the 'very poor' category, with the city's pollution index reaching 377 on Wednesday morning. The deterioration, driven by low winds, falling temperatures, and crop burning in neighbouring states like Punjab and Haryana, comes just days before the annual Diwali festival, which often exacerbates the smog.

In response, officials have activated Stage II of a graded action plan, increasing road cleaning, raising parking charges to deter private cars, and adding 20 extra weekday metro services. India's Supreme Court has permitted the use of certified 'green' firecrackers, but only within strict time windows on November 7th and 8th and not within 300 metres of hospitals or schools.

The pollution spike follows an unusually clear October, which was Delhi's cleanest in eight years. While the capital chokes, Mumbai, which also saw elevated pollution last month, recorded 'satisfactory' air quality on Wednesday. Enforcing the limited firework ban, which failed to prevent a toxic haze after last year's festival, remains a major challenge.

Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.

Read the sources

• Delhi's air quality nears severe zone as AQI hits 377, worst in 288 days
• Delhi's air worsens ahead of Diwali as 8 pollution hotspots enter severe zone, Jahangirpuri AQI hits 451
• Delhi Air Pollution: AQI deteriorates again, turns 'very poor' ahead of Diwali; Check weather forecast for next two days
• Delhi's AQI hits 451 ahead of Diwali, GRAP-II curbs enforced across NCR
• AQI Delhi

More stories in this edition

1. Hebron counts the cost of 11-day Israeli army raid
2. European Parliament warns MEPs off AI for drafting laws
3. Indonesia chief of staff fired over presidential wiretap claims
4. Revolut valuation surges to $115bn ahead of US bank launch
5. Police warn of sharp objects in Halloween sweets across central Europe
6. Startups 'realign' Chinese AI models for Western use
7. Yemen: Government forces claim strategic gains from Houthis
8. Nations and sponsors revolt over Russia's ice hockey return
9. Denmark: 40,000 students strike over grant cuts

Read the whole edition