Firecrackers choke Gurugram, city wrapped in toxic smog overnight
Diwali night in Gurugram turned toxic due to pollution, AQI level crossed 900
Gurugram, 09 November: The air of Gurugram became very polluted due to the smoke of firecrackers on Diwali night. The city remained covered in a blanket of smoke till late night. This caused breathing problems for the sick, elderly and small children. Asthma and respiratory patients faced the most problems. In many societies, people spent the night with their windows closed. The pollution level in the city remained high even till morning. Environmental expert Dr Ram Singh says that the toxic particles emitted from firecrackers can remain in the air for many days.
In Gurugram, the lowest pollution level was 81 AQI in July 2025, which crossed 900 on Diwali night in November 2026. After performing puja on Diwali night in Gurugram, people started bursting firecrackers. The AQI was 261 at 7:30 pm, which increased to 303 within the next half an hour, i.e., by 8 pm. At 8:31 pm, the pollution level reached 374, at 9:01 pm, 464, at 9:31 pm, 608, and at 11:01 pm, the pollution level reached 955 AQI, which was the highest. This means that during this time, people burst firecrackers indiscriminately, making the pollution level lethal. On Monday morning, at 7:01 am, the pollution level dropped to 400 AQI.
The Supreme Court had fixed the time and day for bursting firecrackers on Diwali. On November 7 and 8, the time slots for burning only green crackers were set aside from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. People had already begun purchasing firecrackers from warehouses several days in advance, meaning more regular firecrackers were sold than green ones. People burned firecrackers throughout the Diwali night. In both New and Old Gurugram, people burned a large number of firecrackers, disregarding the Supreme Court’s orders. Consequently, the pollution levels in Gurugram during and after Diwali reached the extremely dangerous and severe category. The concentration of PM 2.5 and PM 10 particles in the air increased significantly, causing people to experience breathing difficulties and eye irritation. The sound of firecrackers echoed late into the night in the residential areas of Old Gurugram.
A cloud of smoke spread across the sky, illuminated by colorful lights. A thick layer of smoke lingered around the streets and houses. The effects of pollution were clearly felt in the atmosphere at night. On one hand, the administration was implementing numerous measures and awareness campaigns to control pollution. The fireworks on Diwali night questioned these efforts. People also ignored Supreme Court orders.
