Delhi and Odisha record severe pollution levels after Diwali celebrations
Thick smog and high AQI readings were reported in Delhi, Bhubaneswar, and industrial belts following overnight firecracker use.
Air quality across Delhi and parts of Odisha deteriorated sharply on Monday, 9 November 2026, following Diwali celebrations. According to reports from The Economic Times and Pragativadi, several monitoring stations in the national capital and Odisha's industrial belts recorded 'severe' or 'poor' Air Quality Index (AQI) levels.
In Delhi, the Burari Crossing recorded the highest AQI at 441, placing it in the 'severe' category. Other areas in the capital that fell into the 'severe' category included Vivek Vihar at 437, Delhi Technological University at 434, and North Campus of Delhi University and Jahangirpuri at 433. Several other neighbourhoods, including Rohini, Ghazipur, and Mundka, also reported 'severe' pollution levels.
In Odisha, Bileipada in Kendujhar recorded the highest AQI in the state at 288. The industrial hub of Talcher recorded 266, while the capital city of Bhubaneswar reached 207. Within Bhubaneswar, the Lingaraj Temple area recorded an AQI of 242, with PM10 particulate concentrations hitting 500 μg/m³ during the night.
The deterioration in Delhi 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. This emergency framework involves progressively stricter restrictions as pollution levels rise.
Environmental health scientists warned that AQI readings exceeding 200 can cause immediate health issues for people with respiratory illnesses, cardiac conditions, or asthma. In Odisha, the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has increased continuous air quality monitoring in Bhubaneswar and Kataka for the next 48 hours to track pollutant dispersion.