Home / Environment / Diwali pollution spike: AQI worsens post-festival
Diwali pollution spike: AQI worsens post-festival
8 Nov
Summary
- Average AQI increases by 16% in four days post-Diwali.
- Severe air days triple after Diwali, historical data shows.
- Pre-Diwali AQI in 2026 is highest in a decade.
Historical air quality data from Delhi-NCR reveals a consistent and sharp deterioration following Diwali celebrations. Analysis since 2015 indicates that the Air Quality Index (AQI) typically worsens by 16% in the four days after Diwali compared to the preceding period. Furthermore, the occurrence of severe air days has been observed to triple in the post-festival period.
In 10 out of the 11 years with available data, post-Diwali AQI readings have surpassed pre-Diwali levels, highlighting the recurrent impact of fireworks. The difference has often exceeded 10%, and in four instances, surpassed 30%. Since 2015, Delhi has recorded 15 severe air days in the four days after Diwali, contrasting with five in the period before the festival.
Recent years have seen particularly sharp post-Diwali spikes. In 2023, the average AQI jumped by over 36%, and the day after Diwali saw a 64% increase compared to Diwali itself. Similar significant rises were noted in 2021 and 2019. The year 2020 was an exception, with AQI falling post-Diwali, but this was attributed to rainfall rather than reduced emissions.
Environmental experts consistently warn that firecracker emissions coincide with unfavorable meteorological conditions prevalent in north India during late autumn. Factors such as falling temperatures, low wind speeds, and atmospheric stagnation trap pollutants, exacerbating the impact of festive emissions on air quality.
