Several air quality monitoring stations across Delhi stopped displaying real-time pollution data on Diwali evening, just as pollution levels were rising sharply. The disruption affected key residential areas, raising questions about transparency and the monitoring of air pollution during one of the most critical nights for Delhi-NCR’s air quality.
What happened on Diwali evening?
Several air quality monitoring stations in Delhi stopped providing real-time pollution data on the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) website on Diwali evening, November 2026.
According to an NDTV report published on November 9, the stations affected included RK Puram, Nehru Nagar, Mundka, Sonia Vihar and Dwarka.
Before the data disappeared, the monitoring stations had been recording a sharp increase in pollution levels. The interruption occurred during the evening hours when firecracker-related pollution was contributing to deteriorating air quality across the national capital.
The report noted that areas such as RK Puram and Nehru Nagar were among the most polluted locations until 9 PM. However, the DPCC website stopped displaying real-time readings from several of these stations for the following hours.
What did the pollution data show before the stations went offline?
The available readings indicated a substantial rise in fine particulate matter, particularly PM2.5, across different parts of Delhi.
The NDTV report highlighted the following readings:
- JNU at 8 PM: PM2.5 concentration was recorded at 161 micrograms per cubic metre.
- RK Puram at 8 PM: The concentration was more than three times higher, at 504 micrograms per cubic metre.
- RK Puram at 9 PM: The reading had increased to 924 micrograms per cubic metre, after which the station stopped displaying data.
- JNU at 11 PM: The PM2.5 concentration had risen to 786 micrograms per cubic metre.
The RK Puram reading nearly doubled within an hour, from 504 to 924 micrograms per cubic metre. Meanwhile, the JNU station continued recording a sharp increase, with its reading reaching nearly five times the 8 PM level by 11 PM.
These figures illustrate the deterioration in air quality during the evening, even in areas where pollution readings were initially lower.
Why was the JNU monitoring station important?
The JNU monitoring station provided an important point of comparison because it is located in a relatively less populated area of South Delhi.
While several stations in residential neighbourhoods stopped displaying data, the JNU station continued recording pollution levels.
Its PM2.5 reading increased from 161 micrograms per cubic metre at 8 PM to 786 micrograms per cubic metre by 11 PM.
The rise showed that pollution was not confined to densely populated residential areas. It also indicated that locations with comparatively lower initial readings experienced a significant deterioration in air quality as the evening progressed.
Which agencies are responsible for monitoring Delhi’s air quality?
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) manages the website through which the affected real-time monitoring data was being displayed.
The committee comes under the Environment Department of the Delhi government and is responsible for monitoring pollution-related information.
The interruption in online readings therefore raised questions about the availability and transparency of air quality information during a period when residents and authorities needed to track pollution levels closely.
However, the NDTV report does not establish why the individual monitoring stations stopped displaying data on Diwali evening.
Has this happened on previous Diwali evenings?
According to the NDTV report, the interruption was not an isolated incident.
The report says that the DPCC website had also stopped displaying data from monitoring stations on previous Diwali evenings.
Technical glitches have generally been cited as the reason for such disruptions. However, the report questions why these technical problems appear repeatedly during one of the most important periods for monitoring pollution in Delhi.
It also points out that the issue has occurred under successive governments, irrespective of the political party in power.
The report does not provide a detailed technical explanation or official documentation establishing the cause of the earlier interruptions.
Why does real-time pollution data matter on Diwali?
Diwali is a particularly important period for air quality monitoring in Delhi-NCR because firecracker emissions can contribute to a rapid increase in particulate pollution.
Real-time monitoring helps residents understand local pollution conditions and allows authorities to assess how air quality is changing across different neighbourhoods.
When monitoring stations stop displaying data during peak pollution hours, it becomes harder for the public to access a complete picture of local air quality.
The interruption also raises questions about whether the monitoring network is adequately prepared to provide continuous information during periods of severe pollution.
What remains unclear?
Despite highlighting the disappearance of readings from several stations, the NDTV report leaves some important questions unanswered:
- What technical problems caused the DPCC stations to stop displaying data?
- Were the monitoring instruments themselves malfunctioning, or was the problem limited to the online reporting system?
- Why did several stations stop showing readings during the same period?
- Did the DPCC investigate the interruptions or publish an explanation?
- What measures have been taken to prevent similar disruptions during future Diwali celebrations?
The available report does not provide answers to these questions or establish that the data was deliberately withheld.
Conclusion
The disappearance of real-time readings from several Delhi air quality monitoring stations on Diwali evening raised concerns about transparency and the reliability of pollution monitoring during peak pollution hours.
Readings from RK Puram and JNU showed a sharp rise in PM2.5 concentrations, while several other stations, including Nehru Nagar, Mundka, Sonia Vihar and Dwarka, stopped displaying data.
The NDTV report also points to similar interruptions on previous Diwali evenings, with technical glitches commonly cited as the explanation.
While the available information does not establish that the data was deliberately suppressed, repeated disruptions during critical pollution periods underline the importance of reliable monitoring systems and timely public access to air quality information.