Delhi's Post-Diwali Toxic Haze Leads To 44% Delay In Flight Departures

Explained

What happened

Several outlets reported that Delhi woke up to heavy smog after Diwali. According to Firstpost, several areas recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) above 400. Moneycontrol said the city's AQI had breached that level and that pollution had reached the "severe" category. The Statesman described smog covering the capital, with the AQI slipping into the same severe range.

The effect on air travel was reported separately by NDTV, which published its account on 10 November. It said Delhi Airport activated its first Low Visibility Procedure (LVP) of the 2026-27 winter season on Diwali night. According to NDTV, the haze that followed led to a 44% delay in flight departures.

Why it matters

The reports place these readings in the severe band, which signals poor air quality for residents. The NDTV figure shows that the pollution also disrupted air travel, not only outdoor conditions. The LVP is the procedure the airport uses when visibility falls, and its activation on Diwali night is the clearest sign in the reports that reduced visibility affected flight operations.

What we don't know yet

The reports do not give the exact AQI readings for each area, so it is unclear how widespread the 400-plus levels were. Firstpost refers only to "several areas," while Moneycontrol and The Statesman describe the severe level in broader terms, and the sources do not fully reconcile these descriptions. NDTV's report does not say how long the delays lasted or how many flights were affected, and none of the four reports offers an official explanation for the smog beyond placing it in the post-Diwali period. Readers should treat these accounts as early reporting and look for updated figures from official monitoring agencies and the airport.

Written by the 91News.in desk with AI assistance, based on reports from NDTV, Firstpost, Moneycontrol, The Statesman. Updated 11 Nov 2026, 7:05 am. Spotted an error? Tell us.