Post-Diwali Pollution in Delhi: Top 10 Areas with Worst Air Quality

Delhi woke up to a blanket of thick smog and toxic air the morning after Diwali, as pollution levels reached alarming heights across the city. The Air Quality Index (AQI) fell into the 'Very Poor' category, while several regions recorded readings in the 'Severe' zone.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall AQI in the capital was 350 as of 8 am on Tuesday.

Top 10 Most Polluted Areas in Delhi After Diwali

The CPCB's latest readings show that many parts of Delhi recorded dangerously high AQI levels. The most polluted areas on Tuesday morning were:

Bawana - AQI 427 (Severe)
Wazirpur - AQI 408 (Severe)
Alipur - AQI 408 (Severe)
Jahangirpuri - AQI 407 (Severe)
Burari Crossing - AQI 402 (Severe)
Shadipur - AQI 399 (Very Poor)
Ashok Vihar - AQI 391 (Very Poor)
Punjabi Bagh - AQI 376 (Very Poor)
Sonia Vihar - AQI 374 (Very Poor)
Vivek Vihar - AQI 374 (Very Poor)

In addition to these, several other locations also showed worrying trends. Areas such as ITO (AQI 347), JLN Stadium (AQI 318), Anand Vihar (AQI 360), Okhla Phase-2 (AQI 353), Lodhi Road (AQI 327), North Campus (AQI 363), and Dilshad Garden (AQI 357) remained in the 'Very Poor' range. The air around Indira Gandhi International Airport was also unhealthy, with an AQI of 313.

Delhi's Rising Pollution Concerns

In the days leading up to Diwali, Delhi's air quality had already begun to worsen, with AQI levels steadily increasing. Despite Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-2) being implemented on Sunday, the air quality turned 'Severe' by Diwali night. Stations in Anand Vihar and Wazirpur crossed AQI levels of 400, showing a clear rise in pollution.

The situation worsened further on Tuesday morning. Residual smoke from crackers, combined with stagnant air and dropping temperatures, trapped pollutants close to the ground. This pattern repeats every year after Diwali, marking the beginning of Delhi's long struggle with winter smog and toxic air.

Supreme Court's Green Crackers Order

On October 15, just before the festive week, the Supreme Court approved the sale and use of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR between October 18 and 20. However, it restricted their use to fixed time slots from 6 to 7 pm and from 8 to 10 pm. Crackers from outside the NCR region were not permitted.

The court described this decision as a "balanced approach" that allows festive celebrations while aiming to protect the environment. However, reports indicated that many people violated the set time limits on Diwali night. As a result, PM 2.5 levels in some parts of the city soared to nearly 29 times higher than the safe limit, worsening Delhi's air quality even further.