Diwali Aftermath: Delhi’s Top 10 Most-Polluted Areas as Air Quality Plummets

Post-Diwali Smog: Delhi Sees Hazardous Air Quality, Top 10 Most-Polluted Areas Revealed.

Delhi and nearby regions woke up to dense smog on Tuesday as air quality plunged into “very poor” and “hazardous” levels. Despite partial restrictions, Diwali firecrackers and ongoing stubble burning in neighboring states pushed particulate matter to dangerous highs, worsened by low temperatures and stagnant winds.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an average AQI of 346 at 5:30 AM, classifying Delhi in the “very poor” range. Several localities—including Wazirpur, Ashok Vihar, and Anand Vihar—crossed the “severe” threshold of 400. In the NCR, Noida and Ghaziabad recorded AQI levels above 410.

Top 10 Most-Polluted Areas in Delhi (Tuesday Morning)

Authorities have enforced Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), including:

• Ban on diesel generator sets (except for essential services)
• Increased road sweeping and water sprinkling
• Crackdown on open waste burning
• Restrictions on construction and demolition

Experts warn these measures provide only limited short-term relief without wider compliance and sustained efforts.