NDTV Profit. Firecracker emissions added to Delhi's existing pollution burden, with several monitoring stations recording severe air quality levels after Diwali. Diwali smog pushes Delhi near severe AQI, with spikes across major Indian cities and Stage III GRAP restrictions in effect. According to the CPCB, at 15 monitoring stations, the AQI crossed 400 by 10 am today with the highest reading recorded at the Delhi Technological University at.