Festive smoke lingers: ‘Poor’ to ‘Very Poor’ AQI recorded across Haryana, Punjab

Several areas in Haryana reported poor and very poor air quality on Diwali night, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). As of 11 pm on Thursday, Gurugram recorded an AQI of 322, Jind was at 336, and Charkhi Dadri at 306.

In other parts of Haryana, Ambala's AQI was 201, Bahadurgarh 292, Bhiwani 278, Ballabhgarh 211, Faridabad 245, Kurukshetra 270, Panchkula 220, Rohtak 222, and Sonipat 258. Chandigarh recorded an AQI of 239 at 11 pm.

In Punjab, Jalandhar's AQI was 256, Ludhiana's 234, Mandi Gobindgarh 266, and Patiala 244.


An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 satisfactory, 101 to 200 moderate, 201 to 300 poor, 301 to 400 very poor, and above 401 severe.

Diwali was celebrated with enthusiasm in Haryana and Punjab. "Candles, diyas (earthen lamps) and electric lights dotted houses as people exchanged sweets and gifts on the occasion and burst firecrackers."

Authorities allowed only green crackers for a restricted time. In Chandigarh, green crackers were permitted between 8 pm and 10 pm. However, in many areas, firecrackers continued beyond the 10 pm limit.

The Punjab government stated that green firecrackers would be allowed for Diwali, Gurpurab, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. Only green crackers without barium salts or compounds of antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic, lead, or strontium chromate could be sold and used in Punjab.