New Delhi Wakes to Heavy Smog as Air Quality Index Reaches 368

NEW DELHI, INDIA — Delhi woke on Monday, November 9, to thick smog and very poor air quality following the Diwali celebrations, with visibility reduced across several parts of India's capital.

According to India's Central Pollution Control Board figures reported by public broadcaster Akashvani News, Delhi's Air Quality Index stood at 368 at 7 a.m. The figure placed conditions within the country's very poor category. It was a morning reading, not a measurement for the entire day.

Several sources of pollution

Fireworks used during Diwali can add smoke and fine particles to air already affected by road traffic, industry, dust and seasonal weather patterns. The capital regularly experiences worsening air pollution as colder conditions and low wind speeds limit how quickly polluted air disperses.

The Supreme Court had permitted specified green fireworks during restricted hours on November 7 and 8, but broader restrictions were due to resume on November 9. That temporary permission did not eliminate the health concerns associated with exposure to high pollution levels.

Public-health implications

Air-quality advisories are especially relevant to children, older adults and people with respiratory illnesses. Residents can follow official pollution and public-health updates as conditions change, rather than relying on a single measurement.

The latest smog underscores the policy difficulties facing fast-growing cities, where air quality depends on transport, industry, enforcement and wider regional environmental conditions. It would be inaccurate to attribute all of Delhi's seasonal pollution to one night of fireworks.

Original reporting and public data: India's Akashvani News, November 9, 2026, citing the Central Pollution Control Board. https://newsonair.gov.in/delhi-wakes-up-to-thick-smog-aqi-remains-in-very-poor-category/