Pollution is already rising in Delhi-NCR ahead of Diwali. CPCB data shows that Delhi’s air quality began deteriorating from October 14 onwards and continues to worsen with every passing day.
Delhi Pollution: Pollution levels in Delhi-NCR have already reached the “poor” category even before Diwali. With the onset of winter, air quality is deteriorating significantly.
The air in Gurgaon has turned toxic during the festive season. The Air Quality Index (AQI) has increased significantly in the past week. On Thursday, for the first time this season, the AQI crossed 260. The effect of pollution is clearly visible on the roads in the morning and evening. The AQI has increased from 101 to 260 in a week.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the national capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 254 at 4 pm, placing it firmly in the ‘poor’ category.
Among the neighbouring NCR cities, Ghaziabad recorded a ‘very poor’ AQI of 306, the worst in the country on Friday. Noida (278) and Gurugram (266) also registered ‘poor’ air quality, while Faridabad (105) remained in the ‘moderate’ range. Ghaziabad had the most polluted air in India on Friday, while Noida, Gurugram, and Delhi, all part of the Delhi-NCR cluster, figured among the country’s top 10 most polluted cities at different positions.
According to CPCB classification, an AQI between 0–50 is considered ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’, and 401–500 ‘severe’. Out of Delhi’s 38 monitoring stations, five reported air quality in the ‘very poor’ category. Anand Vihar recorded the highest AQI at 382, followed by Wazirpur (351), Jahangirpuri (342), Bawana (315), and Siri Fort (309).
#WATCH | Visuals from India Gate as the AQI largely remains in the poor category in Delhi as per the Central Pollution Control Board. Truck-mounted water sprinklers deployed. pic.twitter.com/clL0Uy3R7S
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2025
