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Hyderabad Chokes: Diwali Smoke Blankets City
9 Nov
Summary
- Particulate matter 2.5 reached 392 μg/m³ on Diwali night.
- Pollution monitors were offline during the rising air pollution.
- Morning AQI remained hazardous at 178, with PM 10 at 113 μg/m³.
Hyderabad faced a heavily polluted morning on November 9, 2026, after a night of extensive Diwali celebrations. The air quality index (AQI) significantly worsened, with PM 2.5 levels reaching 392 micrograms per cubic meter at 9:30 p.m. on November 8, 2026. Several central localities reported celebrations continuing until 3 a.m. the following morning.
Concerns were raised as Telangana Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) monitors malfunctioned during the pollution surge, with one station going offline by 10 p.m. Residents described burning eyes and difficulty breathing due to the metallic, sulphurous smell of burnt chemicals. Despite a drop through the night, the AQI averaged a hazardous 178 by the morning of November 9, 2026, with PM 10 levels at 113 μg/m³.
