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Diwali Noise Levels Soar in Delhi, Breaching Permissible Limits
21 Oct
Summary
- Noise levels peaked at 93.5 decibels in Karol Bagh on Diwali night
- 23 out of 26 noise monitoring stations recorded levels above standards
- Noise remained high across silence, residential, and commercial zones
On Diwali night in 2025, Delhi experienced higher noise levels compared to the past three years, with most neighborhoods breaching permissible limits despite existing curbs. Real-time data from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) showed that 23 out of 26 active noise monitoring stations across the city recorded noise levels above prescribed standards, a jump from 22 such stations in 2024 and 13 in 2023.
Karol Bagh, one of Delhi's busiest commercial hubs, recorded the highest decibel levels, peaking at 93.5 dBA at 11 pm on Diwali night. This was marginally lower than the previous year's peak of 94.5 dBA. The area remained noisy throughout the day, with levels staying above the standard night-time limit of 55 dBA from 7 am on Diwali until 2 am the following day.
Even areas designated as silence zones, such as Sri Aurobindo Marg and near Maharshi Valmiki Hospital in Bawana, experienced noise levels far exceeding the permissible 40 dBA for night hours. Residential and commercial areas also failed to meet the prescribed standards, with Vivek Vihar recording 85 dBA at 9 pm and Lajpat Nagar reaching 83.3 dBA at 10 pm.
