Delhi Becomes World's Most Polluted City Post Diwali, Trumps Lahore

New Delhi was ranked the world's most polluted city on Friday morning, November 1, just days after Diwali celebrations pushed air quality to hazardous levels, according to Swiss firm IQAir.

Despite a ban on fireworks, many residents celebrated with firecrackers, adding to the thick smog that blanketed the city.

Photo Credit: PTI

At 10am, the air quality index at Anand Vihar station reached 388, as recorded by the National Air Quality Index (AQI) from the Central Pollution Control Board. This falls under the "very poor" category, raising significant health concerns for the city's residents.

Delhi's air quality level placed it at the top of IQAir's real-time pollution rankings globally.

While the Delhi government has enforced firecracker bans during Diwali in recent years to mitigate pollution, compliance was largely disregarded.

In most parts of Delhi, AQI levels remained above 350, with Aya Nagar at 352, Jahangirpuri at 390, and Dwarka reaching 376-all categorised as 'very poor' and posing serious health risks.

The pollution extended beyond Delhi, with cities such as Chennai and Mumbai also experiencing smog and low air quality. Residents in these cities expressed increasing concerns over pollution levels associated with Diwali celebrations.

The pollution from firecrackers worsened an already compromised atmosphere, as seasonal crop burning from nearby states, which typically occurs during early winter, added to the smog.

Cold, dense air traps pollutants from multiple sources, further worsening air quality.

According to IQAir's major city air quality rankings, the top 10 cities with the most polluted air are:

1. Delhi, India
2. Lahore, Pakistan
3. Beijing, China
4. Dhaka, Bangladesh
5. Wuhan, China
6. Mumbai, India
7. Kathmandu, Nepal
8. Baghdad, Iraq
9. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
10. Karachi, Pakistan