The national capital is grappling with a thick smog and reduced visibility this morning, a day after Diwali celebrations. The Air Quality Index (AQI) across Delhi has climbed into the ‘very poor’ category in most locations, with several areas even recording ‘severe’ levels. The city’s overall AQI stands at a concerning 338 as of 8 am today, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Many parts of Delhi reported AQI readings exceeding 300 on Wednesday. For context, an AQI between 201-300 is considered ‘Poor’, 301-400 is ‘Very Poor’, and 401-500 is ‘Severe’. The ‘Severe’ category poses significant health risks, impacting even healthy individuals and severely affecting those with respiratory conditions.
Delhi Experiences Worst Diwali Air Quality in Four Years
This year’s Diwali marked the worst air quality for Delhi in four years. Pollution levels surged dramatically overnight, with PM2.5 concentrations peaking at 675—a level not seen since 2021. Data from the CPCB shows that Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI at 4 pm on Monday was 345 in the ‘very poor’ category. This is a notable increase compared to previous years: 330 in 2024, 218 in 2023, 312 in 2022, and 382 in 2021.
The surge in pollutants coincided with Diwali fireworks. However, a significant issue arose as data from 39 of Delhi’s air quality monitoring stations became unavailable for several hours during peak pollution times, creating considerable data gaps. An analysis revealed that only nine stations maintained continuous data, representing just 23% of the city’s monitoring network.
Furthermore, on Tuesday, 35 out of Delhi’s 38 monitoring stations reported ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ air quality. While the city opted for greener fireworks this year, contributing factors like stubble burning in neighboring states and unfavorable meteorological conditions in the capital continue to exacerbate the pollution crisis.
Here is a breakdown of the AQI levels in several Delhi areas and surrounding regions:
| Area | AQI | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Punjabi Bagh, Delhi | 433 | Severe |
| Wazirpur | 401 | Severe |
| Ashok Vihar | 382 | Very Poor |
| Jahangirpuri | 365 | Very Poor |
| Vivek Vihar | 361 | Very Poor |
| Anand Vihar | 353 | Very Poor |
| Sonia Vihar | 347 | Very Poor |
| Alipur | 320 | Very Poor |
| Shadipur | 320 | Very Poor |
| Burari Crossing | 306 | Very Poor |
In neighboring areas, Gurugram’s Sector 51 recorded an AQI of 394, Indirapuram in Ghaziabad registered 297, and Faridabad’s New Industrial Town station showed an AQI of 258, placing it in the ‘Poor’ category.