Two days after Dhruv Rathee advised people not to buy firecrackers on Diwali 2025, the Delhi-NCR area pollution rose to alarming levels. The area included Gurgaon (Gurugram) and Noida.

On October 18, the Germany-based Indian activist warned people against blaming one another for air pollution.

On October 21, Delhi-NCR woke up to a thick layer of smog, with air quality dropping to hazardous levels. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 359, falling in the “very poor” category.

At 7 am, the city-wide AQI averaged 451, nearly double the national safe limit, TOI reported.

Delhi's AQI on Diwali 2025 was the worst in the last three years, according to CPCB. it was 328 in 2024, 218 in 2023 and 312 in 2022. Also Read |

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