Delhi teenagers create inexpensive air purifier for just ₹140

Two teenagers in Delhi have developed an amazing technique to fight pollution, through which an air purifier can be made from a regular fan at a cost of just ₹140. According to a report by NDTV India, this new invention can reduce the levels of PM 2.5 in the air by up to 90 per cent in one hour.

These teenagers have prepared a method that can purify polluted air at an extremely low cost. Through this technique, an air purifier is made using a regular fan, which helps specifically in reducing fine particles such as PM 2.5. This invention could prove to be an important solution against the rising levels of air pollution in Delhi and its surrounding areas.

The air pollution situation in Delhi is becoming extremely serious. According to a report by Mint, the amount of smog increases in Delhi and its surrounding areas after the Diwali festival, and visibility also deteriorates. A strong smell of toxic particles is experienced in the air. According to an analysis conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at 59 air pollution stations in Delhi, a heavy increase in PM 2.5 levels has been observed. These levels are so high that often the readings of pollution measurement stations also become empty, which raises questions about the accuracy of the data.

According to CPCB data, the increase in PM 2.5 levels begins around 5 pm on the day of Diwali and reaches around 500-700 µg/m³ between midnight and 2 am. This level is so hazardous that it is equivalent to smoking at least 25 to 26 cigarettes in a single day. According to Mint's analysis, data from 2023 to 2026 shows that this increase in pollution after Diwali is an annual occurrence. During 2025-2026, the pollution level was extremely hazardous, yet the Supreme Court had only permitted the use of certified green crackers, which shows a policy failure in solving this problem.

Due to this increase in pollution, difficulties are also being faced in obtaining data. According to Mint's analysis, in the 24-hour data from 12 noon on 8 November to 12 noon on 9 November, only 4,439 points were available out of a total of 5,664 data points, which means 22% of the data was missing. This data deficiency was 14% three years ago. This lack of data was mainly observed during midnight when pollution levels were at their peak. This could be due to sensor saturation (when hardware limits reach 1,000 µg/m³) or the filter tape jamming due to heavy particles, which triggers an automatic safety shut-off.

According to separate PM 2.5 data from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the reading in the Mundka area reached 3,744 around 2 am on 9 November. Out of a total of 30 stations, 11 stations recorded readings of more than 2,000 in the post-celebration period, which is much higher than the CPCB readings and raises questions about the reliability of the data.

Apart from Delhi, a major decline in air quality was also observed in other cities after Diwali. According to a report by Mint, on the day of Diwali, the air quality in 191 cities was moderate or worse, which increased to 246 the following day. Out of 278 cities, 213 cities saw an increase in AQI levels. The worst 24-hour reading was recorded in Bahadurgarh, Haryana, on 9 November, where the AQI reached a serious level of 400. In the cities of Bettiah and Arra in Bihar, there was an increase of more than 200 points in AQI, due to which they moved from the 'good' or 'satisfactory' level to the 'poor' zone. A total of 51 cities moved from good quality to moderate or poor quality.

According to a report by The Hindu, due to an increase in wind speed, there was a slight improvement in the air pollution levels of Delhi on 10 November, 2026, and the AQI stabilized at 299, which is in the 'poor' category. Earlier on Monday, the day after Diwali, Delhi's average AQI was 376, which was in the 'very poor' category. According to CPCB's classification, 0 to 50 AQI is 'good', 51 to 100 is 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 is 'moderate', 201 to 300 is 'poor', 301 to 400 is 'very poor', and 401 to 500 is 'severe'. On Tuesday, 23 monitoring stations in Delhi recorded 'very poor' air quality, with the highest being 385 at Pusa Road and 381 AQI at Chandni Chowk. AQI readings were available at 57 out of 59 stations in Delhi. The minimum temperature at Safdarjung Weather Station was recorded at 15.7 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate smog during the day and the maximum temperature is likely to remain 28 degrees Celsius.

This increase in air pollution levels is caused by Diwali celebrations, stubble burning, and the cold winter air, which traps pollution near the ground. This situation is likely to persist until February.