Two days after Diwali, the capital on Wednesday remained shrouded in a hazy haze with air quality in the “very poor” category, Medanta’s Dr Naresh Trehan said bad air pollution can cause heart attacks and respiratory problems.
Air quality in Delhi worsened slightly on Wednesday as the wind speed decreased again. Its 24-hour AQI was 353 at 4 pm, according to the daily national bulletin issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Read also | Delhi AQI: Dr Randeep Guleria shares key tips to reduce air pollution risksNoida, India – October 22, 2025: A view of a skyscraper amid low visibility due to early morning air pollution. Pollution levels in Noida remained severe today, with various areas recording air quality index (AQI) between 290 and 350, while the AI sector recorded 290 to 350. 350 in Sector 116 in Noida, India on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. (Photo: Sunil Ghosh / Hindustan Times)
How does air pollution affect children?
Dr. Naresh Trehan, chairman and MD of Medanta-The Medicity, told PTI that the recent rise in AQI above 500 is worrisome as it has a serious impact on people with asthma, heart disease or hypertension.
“High levels of particulate matter and toxic gases can trigger heart attacks, strokes and respiratory problems. This recurring crisis during the end-of-year months, exacerbated by stubble burning and Diwali fireworks, makes life difficult, especially for the elderly and children. Pollution affects children’s lungs and neurological development. We need to push for stricter regulations and take urgent action every year to reduce it in humans.” pollution and public health protection,” he added.
This marks the highest AQI recorded this season, up from 351 on Tuesday and 345 on Monday. During the day, a visible haze enveloped the city, the wind did not exceed a speed of 7 km/h.
What did Delhi CM Rekha Gupta say?
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said air pollution data before and after Diwali showed improvement compared to last year.
“The gap before and after Diwali (between the average AQI) is less this year compared to the previous year, even though firecrackers were allowed this time,” Gupta said at a press conference, as reported by PTI.
The blame game is “on”
On the other hand, AAP leaders accused the BJP government in Delhi of closing pollution monitoring stations in the city, while Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa blamed stubble burning in Punjab for worsening air quality.
Data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board showed that the state recorded 415 farm fires between September 15 and October 21 this year, down from 1,510 in the same period last year.
Read also | AQI rises after Diwali: 5 ways air pollution can harm your eyes
The steep decline comes amid delayed paddy harvest as rains lashed the state till the first week of October. The damage caused by the floods in Punjab also delayed the harvest in some places.
AAP Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj said in a statement that the BJP government “committed data theft at the government level” by showing AQI readings around 350 when the actual levels crossed 1,700, an official statement said.
“Multiple monitoring stations operated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), India Meteorological Department and IITM went offline at the same time and came back only after the wind cleared the air. This is dishonesty and manipulation against the people of Delhi,” he said.
Read also | Delhi air pollution: Sirsa minister says AAP forces farmers to burn stubble
There was no immediate response from the Delhi government or the BJP on his claim.
Despite the recent rise in pollution levels in Delhi, the primary cause is not firecrackers but the increasing number of stubble burning incidents in Punjab, allegedly due to the “negligence” of the AAP government there, a leader said.
Here’s what the Early Warning System says
According to the Centre’s Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) forecast, Delhi’s AQI is expected to remain in the ‘very poor’ category till Saturday and then fluctuate between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ for the next six days.
High levels of particulate matter and toxic gases can trigger heart attacks, strokes and respiratory problems.
Meanwhile, an analysis by the Center for Research in Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has named October 20 and 21 as the worst PM2.5 pollution days in Delhi since January this year.
