Delhi’s air turns toxic post-Dussehra, despite a six-year low in farm fires

Delhi’s air quality has deteriorated sharply following Dussehra, with pollution levels hitting their worst post-festival mark in five years. The deterioration is particularly concerning as it comes in a year when farm fires in Punjab and Haryana fell to their lowest levels in six years.

On October 19, the day before Dussehra, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 139, falling in the 'moderate' category. As effigies of Ravan were set ablaze across the city on Dussehra, the index rose to 179 before jumping to 245 in the 'poor' category on October 21.

Seven monitoring areas across the city, including Punjabi Bagh, Jahangirpuri, and Chandni Chowk, recorded AQI levels exceeding 300, with Pusa recording the highest reading at 329. Air quality remained in the 'poor' category for the subsequent two days before recent rainfall over three days brought the AQI down to 164.

Delhi winter air pollution: 10 lakh vehicles face ban from November 1 While stubble burning is widely considered a major contributor to winter pollution, data from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute recorded only 327 farm fires this year compared to 475 during the same period last year, marking the lowest count in six years.