False claim that Delhi's AQI returned to normal after Diwali?

checkthis · automated fact-check · How we check · Reel by @newpama_

Delhi's AQI remained severely polluted at 370–483 after Diwali rather than returning to normal, and claims of Punjab government sabotage are unproven. Reporting from The Hindu and New Indian Express confirms Delhi's post-Diwali air quality remained in the Very Poor and Severe categories, with over 20 monitoring stations going offline during peak hours. While Punjab logged a single-day high of 1,152 farm fires on Diwali, state authorities penalised farmers with FIRs and fines, and claims of deliberate state government orchestration remain unproven.

1 claim checked
4 sources
Checked 10 Nov 2026
Main source: Delhi AQI data under scrutiny as monitoring stations go offline amid peak Diwali pollution

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The Reel we checked

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Red flags

Accounts don't match

More than 20 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi stopped reporting data during peak Diwali smog hours.

“More than 20 monitoring stations were not reporting data between midnight and 2 am during peak smog hours, according to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).” Delhi AQI data under scrutiny as monitoring stations go offline amid peak Diwali pollution, 2026-11-09

The trick: Exaggerates

It inflates the facts beyond what the evidence shows (known as exaggeration).

“Delhi’s AQI are back to normal, even dropping below pre-Diwali levels”

The Reel falsely claims Delhi's pollution normalized when official data showed severe air quality levels.

How this trick works and how to answer it →

What we checked

Delhi's AQI dropped below pre-Diwali levels following Diwali in November 2026.“Delhi recorded its most polluted Diwali in five years, with private agencies reporting significantly worse air quality than official figures”Delhi AQI data under scrutiny as monitoring stations go offline amid peak Diwali pollution

Connected

The same claim was checked in another Reel (@unknown, ): “Punjab's AQI increased from 200 to 1,435 after stubble burning.”, found false (see it)

What the Reel doesn't tell you

Delhi's post-Diwali air quality remained severely polluted rather than normal, and over 20 monitoring stations failed to report data overnight.
Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra stated satellite data showed Punjab farm fires surged from ~125 on Nov 7 to 1,200 on Diwali (The Hindu).
Punjab enforcement agencies reported registering 884 FIRs and imposing over ₹62 lakh in environmental fines against farmers burning stubble (The Hindu).

How it plays you

It wants you to think: “Delhi's AQI returned to normal under CM Rekha Gupta's leadership despite the AAP-led Punjab government allegedly increasing stubble burning tenfold during Diwali.”

The conclusion rests on a false claim that air pollution normalized and an unproven allegation of deliberate sabotage by Punjab's government.

Short version

⚠️ MISLEADING 👉 Delhi's AQI remained severely polluted after Diwali rather than returning to normal, and claims of Punjab government sabotage are unproven. 👉 Reporting from The Hindu and New Indian Express confirms Delhi's post-Diwali air quality remained in the Very Poor and Severe categories. 🎭 Trick: Exaggerates 📰 Sources: New Indian Express, The Hindu 🔎 Full check: send this Reel to @checkthis.chat