India: Delhi Chokes on Most Polluted Diwali Eve in 10 Years

Deutsche Welle

Publish : 08 Nov 2026, 08:09 PM

People in the capital woke up to a thick smog as pollution worsened in Delhi. Photo: Reuters

Delhi was ranked as the world's most polluted major city on the eve of Diwali. Delhi's air pollution is expected to get worse in the coming days.

Delhi awoke Sunday morning enveloped in smog with poor visibility after the previous night saw the worst air quality for Diwali eve in 10 years.

India's Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said the Indian capital had a "very poor" air quality index (AQI) of 362 on Saturday. The worst polluted pre-Diwali day was in 2016, when the AQI hit 404 on October 29, according to the CPCB.

The air quality is forecast to turn "severe" on Sunday, with Diwali celebrations adding to the pollution.

Swiss monitor IQAir, meanwhile, ranked Delhi as the world's worst polluted major city on Saturday.

While vehicular emissions and stubble burning in neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana are major contributors to air pollution, Diwali celebrations, which involve large-scale burning of firecrackers, add to the pollution in the city.

The government had already ordered schools in and around Delhi to offer online classes, and encouraged people to work from home ahead of ⁠the Hindu festival of light.

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