October 20, 2025

New Delhi saw a thick layer of smog cover the city on Diwali morning, October 20, 2025, turning the air dirty and unhealthy. The city's Air Quality Index (AQI), which measures how clean or polluted the air is, jumped into the 'very poor' category, crossing 300. By noon, it slightly improved but still stayed high at 334, compared to 339 earlier that morning. Out of 38 places where air was checked in the city, 31 showed 'very poor' air quality with AQI above 300. Even worse, three areas—Anand Vihar (402), Wazirpur (423), and Ashok Vihar (414)—saw air pollution levels in the 'severe' zone, meaning the air was extremely harmful to breathe. Experts say this smoky nightmare could get worse on Tuesday and Wednesday, spreading more 'severe' pollution across the capital. To understand AQI better: 0-50 is 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and 401-500 'severe'. In response, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi and nearby areas. This action was based on studies by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). GRAP is a special plan that triggers pollution-reducing steps when air quality worsens. Adding to the festive mix, the Supreme Court had earlier allowed the use of green crackers in Delhi-NCR between 6 am to 7 pm and from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali day and the day before. The aim was to balance celebration with cleaner air. On the weather front, the city was relatively cool with a low of 20.2°C early morning, some fog and mist, but mostly clear skies later. The maximum temperature is expected to reach 33°C. So this Diwali, as Delhi lights up, its air dims with smog, reminding everyone to stay cautious and protect their health in the smoky struggle.

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Tags: Delhi, Air quality index, Pollution, Diwali, Smog, Grap,