Air pollution over 50 times WHO limit in parts of Delhi as people defy ban on firecrackers on Deepavali

NEW DELHI As Delhiites burst firecrackers well past the 10 p.m. deadline set by the Supreme Court for Deepavali night, air pollution shot up to over 50 times World Health Organisation (WHO) limits in parts of the city, official data showed. The level of PM2.5 (a major pollutant) in Akshardham was 760.99 micrograms per cubic meter at 11 p.m.

on Sunday (November 8, 2026), as per Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) data. This is about 50.73 times the WHO permissible limit of 15 micrograms per cubic meter for a 24-hour period. Deepavali 2026: All you need to know about Supreme Court-permitted time slots, green crackers and other directives https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/diwali-2026-supreme-court-green-cracker-norms-permitted-time-slots-and-other-directions/article71669897.ece PM2.5 (Particulate Matter 2.5) are fine inhalable particles, which can get into lungs and bloodstream and lead to a range of respiratory and other diseases.

The level of PM2.5 in Anand Vihar was 767 micrograms per cubic meter at 11 p.m.