Firecrackers caused 71.1 per cent of Delhi PM2.5 pollution on Diwali morning
An assessment by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology shows firecracker emissions dominated air pollution levels in the capital after celebrations ended.
Firecrackers contributed 71.1 per cent of PM2.5 pollution in Delhi between 1 am and 9 am on November 9, according to an assessment by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, reported by The Indian Express and The Times of India.
The study found that the share of firecracker emissions rose sharply from 43.4 per cent on the night before Diwali and 5.6 per cent on the morning of November 7.
During the early hours of November 9, the contribution of other sources fell, with vehicular emissions accounting for 6.9 per cent and waste-burning at 1.1 per cent, The Indian Express reported.
Fine particulate matter levels reached 4,985 µg/m³ in Jahangirpuri and 2,808 µg/m³ in Nehru Nagar at 3 am on November 9, according to the IITM data.
The Times of India noted that while firecrackers caused an intense burst of emissions, Delhi's air was already in the Very Poor category in the week before the festival, with an average AQI of 347.
Unlike coastal cities like Chennai that recover quickly, Delhi faces prolonged pollution due to atmospheric stagnation, low wind speeds, and regional crop-residue burning in Punjab and Haryana.