Delhi News Live Updates: Environment Minister welcomes SC’s order on green crackers, announces cloud seeding in 2-3 days amid worsening AQI

Delhi AQI Today Live Updates: The announcement comes as the AQI in Delhi remained in the 'poor' category, with the reading pegged at 201 early Wednesday, with Anand Vihar recording an AQI of 347.

A thin layer of smog engulfs Kartavya Path, in New Delhi, on Saturday. (File Photo)

Delhi AQI Live Updates: Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa Wednesday welcomed the Supreme Court’s order allowing use of green crackers this festive season, and urged residents to be cognizant of the court’s directions, following them “word-by-word.” He also announced that the Ministry will meet cracker retailers at 3 pm today, following which another meeting will take place with government departments for enforcement of SC guidelines.

Delhi’s worsening AQI: Sirsa also announced that pilot training for cloud seeding across Delhi is completed. “If the weather conditions are apt in the coming 2-3 days, then with the approval of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the government will conduct the exercise for three hours,” he said. The announcement comes as the AQI in Delhi remained in the ‘poor’ category, with the reading pegged at 201 early Wednesday. Anand Vihar retained the top spot, recording the worst air quality at 347, followed by Wazirpur at 296. The EWS forecast stated the Delhi AQI will reach 346 on Friday evening.

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Counter-measures to air pollution: Owing to the rising pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas has imposed Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-1). Residents in polluted zones are advised to wear masks and stay indoors as much as possible. Health experts have advised people to avoid outdoor walking, jogging, or exercising due to the presence of toxic pollutants in the air.

Live Updates

Oct 15, 2025 05:31 PM IST

Delhi News Live Updates: Karnataka govt approached NCRTC for four Namo Bharat corridors from Bengaluru: Official

To expand the footprint of India's first regional rapid transit network, several states, including Karnataka, have approached the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) to prepare detailed studies for the new semi-high-speed Namo Bharat corridors aimed at boosting intercity connectivity.

The Karnataka government has approached the NCRTC for four semi-high-speed Namo Bharat corridors from Bengaluru to strengthen regional transport links across the southern state and its neighbouring regions, an official told PTI. — PTI

Oct 15, 2025 05:01 PM IST

Delhi News Live Updates: Drug addict attempts suicide by climbing Sanjay Gandhi Hospital roof; rescued safely

Upset over a family dispute, a 25-year-old drug addict climbed onto the roof of Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Delhi's Mangolpuri area on Wednesday and threatened to commit suicide, but was rescued safely, officials said.

The man, identified as Rahul Mandal, has a history of substance abuse and had bruises all over his body. He was heavily intoxicated, drowsy and sweating profusely, making the rescue operation difficult as officers fear he may slip out of their grip when they try to pull him down from the six-storey building, the officials added. — PTI

Oct 15, 2025 04:19 PM IST

Delhi News Live Updates: Delhi HC relaxes Karti Chidambaram's bail condition in INX Media corruption case

he Delhi High Court on Wednesday modified the bail conditions imposed on Congress leader Karti Chidambaram, who's facing prosecution in the INX media corruption case.

Justice Ravinder Dudeja eased the bail condition, which directed Karti to seek trial court's permission before travelling outside India. Now Karti is required to give prior intimation to the trial court and the investigating agency two weeks prior to his travel abroad. — PTI

Oct 15, 2025 03:57 PM IST

Delhi News Live Updates: Man held from Lucknow for kidnapping Delhi boy to pressure his mother to marry him

A man was apprehended from Lucknow hours after he allegedly kidnapped a four-year-old boy from outside his home here after the child's mother refused to marry him, the police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place on Sunday.

The accused, Sudhakar Singh (24), a flower seller from Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, was apprehended at Lucknow railway station while he was travelling with the child on Suhaildev Express, the police said. — PTI

Oct 15, 2025 01:13 PM IST

Delhi Environment Minister Sirsa announces cloud seeding in 2-3 days, in presence of favourable weather conditions

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa Wednesday said that pilot training for cloud seeding has been completed.

"If the weather conditions are apt in the coming 2-3 days, then with the IMD's approval, the government will conduct the exercise for three hours," Sirsa said.

"We are happy to inform you that even with over-aged vehicles on road...we were able to get clear skies for most number of days this year," he added.

Oct 15, 2025 01:10 PM IST

Delhi Environment Minister welcomes SC's order on green crackers, set to hold meeting with retailers today

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa Wednesday hailed the Supreme Court's order allowing green crackers in Delhi this Diwali.

"Firecrackers have remained banned for a long time in Delhi... There were several questions raised on why there has to be restrictions imposed on only one religion and why only in Delhi-NCR?... Now, under the CM Rekha Gupta's leadership we presented our points before the Supreme Court... I welcome this order."

Reading out the SC order, Sirsa said: "The court has in fact given SOPs to departments. I want to urge the residents of Delhi to keep in mind the SC's directions and only burst green crackers... This order is temporary but with residents' participation, we will be able to continue this in the coming years..."

"The Delhi government will ensure that SC's directions are followed word-by-word and line-by-line."

He also announced that the government will hold its first meeting with retailers at 3 pm today over this matter. Following the meeting, the Ministry will hold a second meeting with different departments for enforcement of guidelines for green crackers.

Oct 15, 2025 12:25 PM IST

Delhi HC grants ‘final opportunity’ to ED after 9 adjournments in plea against Kejriwal’s bail in excise policy scam

The Delhi High Court granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) the “last and final opportunity” on Tuesday “in the interest of justice” after recording that the department has sought nine adjournments in its plea challenging the bail granted to former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal in the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

Justice Ravinder Dudeja also recorded Kejriwal’s objection to the request for adjournment. The ED sought adjournment as Additional Solicitor General S V Raju was held up at the Supreme Court.

The ED is seeking the cancellation of bail granted to Kejriwal by a trial court on June 20 last year. It had arrested Kejriwal on March 21 last year in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy.

Read the full story here.

Oct 15, 2025 12:22 PM IST

Delhi HC protects personality, publicity rights of actor Hrithik Roshan; directs removal of objectionable posts on social media

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday protected the personality and publicity rights of Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan and directed removal of certain objectionable posts against him on social media, news agency PTI reported.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora said it was not passing any ex-parte directions, at the interim stage, for removal of certain fan pages, adding that an order would be passed after hearing them, the report stated.

The court was hearing a plea by Roshan seeking to protect his personality rights and restrain online platforms from illegally using his name, images and AI-generated inappropriate content.

Earlier, Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, filmmaker Karan Johar, Telugu actor Akkineni Nagarjuna, "Art of Living" founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and journalist Sudhir Chaudhary also approached the high court seeking protection of their personality and publicity rights and the court granted them interim relief.

The right to publicity, popularly known as personality rights, is the right to protect, control and profit from one's image, name or likeness. (PTI)

Oct 15, 2025 11:30 AM IST

CM Rekha Gupta hails SC for green cracker order: ‘Committed to clean and green Delhi’

As the Supreme Court allowed the conditional sale of green crackers in Delhi-NCR, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed gratitude to the court for granting permission at the special request of the Delhi government.

She posted on X: “This decision respects the sentiments and enthusiasm of the public during sacred festivals like Diwali, while also reflecting a balanced approach towards environmental protection.”

The Supreme Court Wednesday said that offline sale of green crackers will be permitted from October 18 to October 21. Crackers being sold should have QR codes.

दिल्ली सरकार के विशेष आग्रह पर राजधानी में ग्रीन पटाखों के उपयोग की अनुमति प्रदान करने हेतु माननीय सर्वोच्च न्यायालय का आभार।

यह निर्णय दीपावली जैसे पवित्र पर्व पर जनभावनाओं और उत्साह का सम्मान करता है, साथ ही पर्यावरण संरक्षण के प्रति संतुलित दृष्टिकोण को दर्शाता है।

दिल्ली…
— Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) October 15, 2025

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Oct 15, 2025 11:20 AM IST

Clear skies in Delhi today, minimum temp likely to drop to 18 degrees

Delhi will witness mainly clear skies on Wednesday, with the minimum temperature dropping to around 18 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperature is likely to be around 32 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast.

Oct 15, 2025 11:18 AM IST

'No froth like before in Yamuna': Delhi CM Rekha Gupta assures clean river on Chhath festival

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has assured the people of Delhi that froth over the Yamuna surface will not be seen during the upcoming Chhath festival, asserting that fast-paced work is underway for the rejuvenation of the polluted river.

Gupta underlined that the existing sewage treatment plants (STPs) were beign upgraded, along with tendering of new ones and drone mapping of drains to tap their untreated discharge.

Oct 15, 2025 11:15 AM IST

AQI in NCR worsens alongside Delhi; smog envelops Noida

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in National Capital Region (NCR) worsened alongside Delhi on Wednesday.

The AQI in Noida reached 369 at 7 am, jumping from 228 at 5 am today. A layer of smog could be seen enveloping the city.

Ghaziabad was in the 320-325 range between 5 am and 7 am. The Faridabad AQI steadily rose from 252 at 5 am to 267 at 7 am.

Oct 15, 2025 11:12 AM IST

Air quality in Delhi turns 'poor', GRAP-1 activated

Owing to the rising air pollution in Delhi, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas has imposed Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-1).

Residents in polluted zones are advised to wear masks and stay indoors as much as possible.

Health experts have advised people to avoid outdoor walking, jogging, or exercising due to the presence of toxic pollutants in the air.

Oct 15, 2025 11:10 AM IST

AQI in Delhi worsens; at 347, Anand Vihar remains the most polluted

Air pollution in Delhi is rising significantly each day, with no relief in sight.

The AQI in Delhi at 5.30 am on Wednesday, October 15 remained in the ‘poor’ category, with the reading pegged at 201.

Anand Vihar retained the top spot, recording the worst air quality at 347, followed by Wazirpur at 296.

The EWS forecast stated the Delhi AQI will reach 346 on Friday evening.

Oct 15, 2025 11:09 AM IST

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