Diwali celebrations are now over as India officially gears up for the winter season. But a thick blanket of smog, rising AQI readings, and worsening air pollution have engulfed several Indian cities after the festivities. Residents from Delhi to Mumbai woke up to dark skies, smoky air, and reduced visibility. Here’s the latest update on air pollution and AQI readings across major cities in India.
Air Pollution Updates Across Major Cities In India
🚨 Delhi turns into a gas chamber after Diwali! 😷
•Average AQI crosses 450 — officially in the “Severe” zone
•Areas like Dwarka (417), Anand Vihar (404) & Wazirpur (423) record toxic air
•Crackers + stagnant winds = choking pollution cloud over NCRThe sky may have lit up… pic.twitter.com/mc0eohhk89
— Choudhary kapil (@choudhary_119) October 21, 2025
Starting with Delhi, the worst-hit city among all, the capital continues to remain the most affected. A thick, toxic layer of haze has covered the city for the second day after Diwali. As per a report by NDTV, the air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category with an AQI reading of 345 at 7 am on October 22. Out of 38 monitoring stations, 34 were in the red zone, indicating ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ air quality.
On Diwali day, 24 stations were in the red zone, but just two days later, the count rose to 34. Punjabi Bagh and Wazirpur were among the most affected locations, with AQI levels of 433 and 401, respectively. An X user, @choudhary_119, took to his social media account and wrote, “The sky may have lit up last night, but today… the air burns.”
Unlike Delhi, Mumbai’s AQI improved significantly today, recording 141 around 5:30 am. As per a report by The Indian Express, this improvement came just a day after the city recorded an alarming AQI of 351, falling in the ‘very poor’ category. The city’s skyline was shrouded in a thick, toxic haze due to the extensive use of firecrackers during Diwali, which had drastically reduced visibility. However, the air quality has now shown improvement.
AQI Levels In Other Cities
Moving to the recent updates on air pollution in other major cities in India, Bengaluru’s air quality ranged from ‘good’ to ‘satisfactory’ on Diwali day, October 20. However, after the celebrations, the air quality shifted to ‘moderate’. As per The Times of India, the city’s AQI was recorded at 72 yesterday, indicating moderate conditions. Rain is expected today, which may further improve the air quality.
Kolkata and Howrah also saw a sharp dip in air quality on Kali Puja night, as people burst firecrackers beyond the permitted hours of 8 pm to 10 pm. The AQI reached 186 at Victoria Memorial and 364 at Belur. As per Deccan Herald, Lucknow’s air quality was also categorised as ‘unhealthy’ during the festivities, with an AQI reading of 190.
Chennai saw heavy rainfall on Monday, which helped keep air pollution in check. The city recorded an AQI of 54 yesterday, falling in the ‘satisfactory’ range. In Punjab, however, the air quality ranged from ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’. Amritsar recorded an AQI of 212, Jalandhar 242, and Ludhiana 268, just a day after Diwali.
Also Read: Diwali 2025: 5 Best Hill Stations Near Delhi For Solo Travellers Craving A Smoke-Free Diwali
Though some cities in India are showing slight improvement in air quality post-Diwali, Delhi continues to reel under a thick haze and smog. How’s the air quality in your city? Do let us know!
Cover Image Courtesy: @choudhary_119/ X
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