Delhi sees second cleanest air post-Diwali since 2015 as winds disperse smoke

Delhi's air quality post-Diwali has improved, recording the second cleanest levels since 2015. The Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the "very poor" category but did not reach "severe" levels, thanks to strong winds dispersing smoke. On Friday, the AQI dropped from 362 in the morning to 323 by evening. This change followed a night of rising pollution due to fireworks and stubble burning, which contributed significantly to PM2.5 levels. Despite the improvement, some areas experienced hourly spikes in PM2.5 that exceeded national limits by over 30 times. The weather conditions, including higher temperatures and sustained winds, played a key role in this unexpected air quality relief.