New Delhi, Oct 21 (PTI) Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply after Diwali, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels surging to their highest in five years, according to an analysis of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

The average PM2.5 concentration touched 488 micrograms per cubic metre in the 24 hours after Diwali, more than three times the pre-festival level of 156.6 micrograms per cubic metre.

The analysis, covering the period from 2021 to 2025, showed that PM2.5 values consistently spiked during Diwali night and early the next morning, with the 2025 post-Diwali reading of 488 micrograms per cubic metre being the most polluted period since 2021. Show Full Article

The data shows that in previous years, average PM2.5 levels rose from 163.1 to 454.5 in 2021, from 129.

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