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Delhi Braces for Severe Air Pollution as Firecracker Season Approaches
18 Oct
Summary
- Delhi's air quality has been "poor" for 5 consecutive days
- Forecasts predict AQI to reach "severe" levels in the coming days
- Ghaziabad recorded the worst AQI in the country for 3 days in a row
As of October 19th, 2025, Delhi has been battling a worsening air pollution crisis, with the city experiencing "poor" air quality for the past 5 consecutive days. The city's air quality index (AQI) has been steadily deteriorating, with the 24-hour average AQI reaching 268 on Saturday.
Forecasts by the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) suggest that the situation is likely to worsen in the coming days. The AQI is predicted to reach the "severe" category by Tuesday, as unfavorable meteorological factors and the upcoming firecracker season are set to further deteriorate the air quality.
The situation is not limited to Delhi alone. Other cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) have also been struggling with poor air quality. Ghaziabad, in Uttar Pradesh, has recorded "very poor" air quality for the past 3 days, with the city topping the list of the most polluted areas in the country.
The deteriorating air quality has prompted the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and Adjoining Areas to impose Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) on October 14th. This 27-point action plan aims to mitigate the air pollution crisis, and more stringent measures may be implemented if the situation worsens.
As Delhi and the surrounding regions brace for a challenging period ahead, the authorities will need to take decisive action to address the root causes of the air pollution crisis and ensure the well-being of the residents.
