Delhi Air Pollution: This time also Delhi’s Diwali was covered in poisonous smog. With the lighting of firecrackers in the sky, the level of pollution in the air started touching the sky. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 345 at 4 pm on Monday, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category. Compared to previous years, the pollution level of 2025 proved to be even more serious.
The AQI of 2025 was more severe than previous years. It was 330 in 2024, 218 in 2023, 312 in 2022 and 382 in 2021. The AQI remained between 344 and 359 overnight and by Tuesday afternoon the average was recorded at 351.
PM2.5 level broke record
The level of PM2.5 reached 675 micrograms per cubic meter on Diwali night, which is the highest in the last four years. This level was recorded at 609 micrograms in 2024, 570 in 2023, 534 in 2022 and 728 micrograms in 2021. According to PTI report, the level was 91 micrograms at 4 pm, which continuously increased to 675 by 12 midnight. Experts say that due to the depression formed in the Bay of Bengal, the wind speed remained low, due to which the pollutants could not spread.
Noise pollution is also at its peak
According to Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) data, noise levels were recorded above the limit at 23 out of 26 noise monitoring stations in the city. A sound of 93.5 decibels (A) was recorded at Karol Bagh at 11 pm, while the permissible limit is 55 decibels (A). Even in silence zones like Sri Aurobindo Marg, the noise level reached 65 decibels (A).
GRAP Stage II implemented, improvement expected
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implemented GRAP Stage II on Sunday. According to this, 14.6% pollution was caused by transport, 8.3% by Noida, 6% by Ghaziabad, 3.6% by Gurugram and 1% by stubble burning. Former CPCB officer Dipankar Saha says that due to increase in wind speed, pollution may reduce in the coming days.
AAP and BJP face to face
The political debate regarding air pollution also intensified in Delhi. Union Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa accused Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP of instigating Punjab farmers to burn stubble, which is further polluting Delhi’s air. On this, AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj hit back and described Sirsa as “illiterate” and said that Punjab’s AQI is only 156, which clearly shows that the reason for pollution is something else. Due to increase in pollution and noise levels, the health of Delhiites is being seriously affected, and the administration may take special steps for improvement in the coming days.