📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / KaimlaCity
Weather
Ten Haryana cities rank among 19 with ‘very poor’ AQI on Diwali eve
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 08 Nov 2026, 11:32 AM
👁 15
On the evening before Diwali, 19 Indian cities recorded a ‘very poor’ Air Quality Index, with ten of them located in Haryana, highlighting severe pollution ahead of the festival.
The Central Pollution Control Board’s real‑time monitoring network flagged 19 Indian cities with a ‘very poor’ Air Quality Index (AQI) on the night before Diwali. Ten of these cities are situated in Haryana, indicating that the state is bearing a disproportionate share of the seasonal smog.
Experts attribute the spike to a combination of factors typical of the festival period: widespread firecracker usage, increased vehicular traffic and the burning of agricultural residue in surrounding regions. The AQI readings in the Haryana cities crossed the 300 mark, a level classified as hazardous for sensitive groups and the general public.
State officials have urged residents to limit outdoor activities, keep windows closed, and use masks where necessary. The Haryana Pollution Control Board also announced temporary bans on firecracker sales in several districts to curb further deterioration of air quality.
Health agencies warned that prolonged exposure to such high pollution levels could exacerbate respiratory conditions, especially among children, the elderly and those with pre‑existing ailments. The situation underscores the growing challenge of managing air quality during India’s major festivals.
Experts attribute the spike to a combination of factors typical of the festival period: widespread firecracker usage, increased vehicular traffic and the burning of agricultural residue in surrounding regions. The AQI readings in the Haryana cities crossed the 300 mark, a level classified as hazardous for sensitive groups and the general public.
State officials have urged residents to limit outdoor activities, keep windows closed, and use masks where necessary. The Haryana Pollution Control Board also announced temporary bans on firecracker sales in several districts to curb further deterioration of air quality.
Health agencies warned that prolonged exposure to such high pollution levels could exacerbate respiratory conditions, especially among children, the elderly and those with pre‑existing ailments. The situation underscores the growing challenge of managing air quality during India’s major festivals.