The National Capital Region (NCR) witnessed a significant deterioration in air quality following Deepavali celebrations, with Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) entering the "Poor" to "Very Poor" category. According to SAFAR projections, AQI levels were expected to reach 383, indicating severe atmospheric stress and heightened public health concerns. Several monitoring stations, including Anand Vihar, recorded AQI values exceeding 400, approaching the "Severe" category.The spike in pollution has been attributed primarily to firecracker emissions, vehicular pollution, construction dust, biomass burning, and unfavorable meteorological conditions. Data from various monitoring stations revealed exceptionally high concentrations of PM2.5, the most harmful particulate pollutant capable of penetrating deep into human lungs and entering the bloodstream.
Air quality monitoring data indicated that particulate pollution levels surged dramatically during the Deepavali night. In some locations, PM2.5 concentrations crossed 1,000 µg/m³, while certain monitoring stations recorded values exceeding 1,700 µg/m³, nearly 100 times higher than the World Health Organization's recommended 24-hour guideline value of 15 µg/m³.Environmental experts noted that actual pollution levels may have been even higher due to missing monitoring data during peak pollution hours. The absence of continuous data raised concerns regarding the accurate assessment of pollution severity and AQI calculations.
Despite the severe pollution episode, experts observed a relatively rapid decline in pollutant concentrations during the following morning. This improvement was largely attributed to:
Wind speeds ranging between 5–10 km/hr facilitated the dispersal of pollutants accumulated during the night, leading to gradual improvement in air quality from early morning onwards.
Several environmental activists and experts highlighted concerns regarding missing PM2.5 monitoring data during peak pollution hours. Missing data points from multiple monitoring stations created uncertainty regarding the true extent of pollution exposure faced by residents.Experts suggested that one possible explanation could be pollutant concentrations exceeding the measurement capacity of monitoring instruments, potentially leading to an underestimation of AQI values.
In response to recurring winter pollution episodes, the Delhi Government announced preparations for the city's first artificial rain project through cloud seeding. A trial mission was successfully conducted in the Burari region with technical support from IIT Kanpur and associated agencies.The initiative aims to induce rainfall by dispersing cloud-seeding materials into moisture-bearing clouds. Authorities identified October 28–30 as a potential operational window, subject to favorable weather conditions.
Cloud seeding involves introducing particles into suitable clouds to enhance condensation and precipitation processes. During the trial:
However, IIT Kanpur clarified that the trial did not generate rainfall because cloud cover was limited and atmospheric moisture content remained below the required threshold.
The proposed intervention represents a technological and scientific approach toward emergency pollution mitigation. Potential benefits include:
However, experts emphasize that cloud seeding is not a permanent solution and must complement long-term measures such as:
Persistent exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 pollutants is associated with:
The recurring post-Deepavali pollution episodes underscore the need for a comprehensive and sustained air quality management framework across the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
| AQI Range | Category |
|---|---|
| 0–50 | Good |
| 51–100 | Satisfactory |
| 101–200 | Moderate |
| 201–300 | Poor |
| 301–400 | Very Poor |
| 401–500 | Severe |
Updated – 24 October 2025 | 09:30 AM | News Source:
Mint ,