Home / Environment / Delhi Chokes on Diwali Pollution: Hazardous Levels Recorded Days Before Festival
Delhi Chokes on Diwali Pollution: Hazardous Levels Recorded Days Before Festival
19 Oct
Summary
- Delhi already experiencing hazardous pollution levels before Diwali
- Particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) exceeding national and WHO limits
- Experts warn pollution likely to spike further during Diwali celebrations
As of October 19, 2025, Delhi is already experiencing hazardous air pollution levels, with the city bracing for an even more severe crisis during the upcoming Diwali festival. On Dhanteras, two days before Diwali, several areas in the capital recorded alarming spikes in particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) concentrations.
At 9 am on October 19, the Anand Vihar area recorded a PM10 level of 843 µg/m³, over 16 times higher than the World Health Organization's 24-hour guideline of 45 µg/m³. Other parts of the city, including Dwarka, Wazirpur, and Ashok Vihar, also hit hazardous pollution levels.
The fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) also climbed sharply, with several stations recording extreme concentrations. Ashok Vihar reached 490 µg/m³, Mundka 327 µg/m³, and Anand Vihar 214 µg/m³ - more than 20 times the WHO's 24-hour safe limit of 15 µg/m³.
Experts warn that the situation is likely to deteriorate further as Diwali celebrations and firecracker use are expected to increase, even with time caps in place. According to forecasts, air quality may reach the 'severe' category on October 21, a day after Diwali. Authorities have been conducting patrols and inspections to enforce the use of only certified 'green' crackers, but the challenge remains to curb the city's toxic haze.
