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Cooler air during winter traps pollutants near the ground, forming a deadly combination of emissions from crop burning, factories, and heavy traffic. This year, pollution levels were further aggravated by fireworks celebrations marking Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Although India’s Supreme Court recently allowed limited use of “green firecrackers” that release fewer particulates, enforcement has been weak, and the ban was largely ignored in previous years.
On Monday, PM2.5 concentrations — toxic microscopic particles small enough to enter the bloodstream — reached 248 micrograms per cubic metre in parts of the city, according to data from IQAir. The government’s Commission of Air Quality Management warned that air quality is likely to deteriorate further in the coming days and urged authorities to maintain uninterrupted power supply to minimize diesel generator use.
City officials announced plans to conduct cloud seeding operations this month — a process involving dispersing chemicals like salt into clouds to induce rainfall and clear the air. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed that all preparations, including flight trials and pilot training, have been completed.
According to a study published in The Lancet Planetary Health, around 3.8 million deaths in India between 2009 and 2019 were linked to air pollution. The UN children’s agency (UNICEF) has also warned that the city’s toxic air poses severe health risks, particularly increasing the likelihood of acute respiratory infections among children.
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