Delhi gasps after Diwali: 38 air monitoring stations in ‘red zone’; 4 record AQI above 400

Delhi’s air quality plunged into the ‘red zone’ on Diwali night as fireworks celebrations extended beyond permitted hours. Most monitoring stations reported ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ pollution levels. Despite Supreme Court-sanctioned green cracker timings, the city’s AQI reached 344, with expectations of further deterioration.