Diwali and Stubble Burning Drive Hazardous Air Pollution

Following Diwali celebrations, air quality deteriorated across northern and eastern India, with many cities recording 'poor' to 'very poor' AQI and some reaching hazardous levels; Delhi saw extreme hourly spikes while many of its continuous monitors went offline during the 36‑hour peak, creating critical data gaps. Government and local monitors recorded high readings in Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow ~250, Gorakhpur ~280, Ghaziabad and Noida above 320), Bihar (Hajipur 291, Patna 226), Jharkhand's Ranchi (PM10/PM2.5 well above limits), and Punjab hotspot Mandi Gobindgarh (AQI 295). Mumbai briefly improved after rain but had registered a very poor peak at Colaba (341) the day before, while Pune and Coimbatore largely remained in the 'moderate' band with localized 'poor' pockets. Authorities said Diwali fireworks, ongoing crop‑stubble burning and extended celebrations drove the surge; police, fire and civic agencies deployed patrols, CCTV, fire tenders and anti‑smog measures and registered violations, and Pakistan also reported worsened air in cities such as Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujranwala with mitigation steps. Noise monitoring in cities including Ranchi, Patna and Coimbatore recorded sustained violations of timing and decibel limits. Public‑health experts warned elevated PM2.5/PM10 levels pose immediate and long‑term risks to respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological health and urged stricter enforcement and alternatives to fireworks.