New Delhi: Noise levels rose in 19 of the 26 areas monitored on Diwali this year compared with 23 last year. The highest reading was recorded at Karol Bagh, which reached 89.1 dB(A), Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s (DPCC) annual assessment report showed.The report, released Monday, showed that the noise levels had risen by 0.3% to 16.6% across these 19 locations. The remaining seven areas recorded a decline of between 0.1% and 8.8%. Sonia Vihar recorded the sharpest rise over last year. The noise levels increased 16.6% from 64.3 dB(A) last year to 74.9 dB(A) this Diwali. Jahangirpuri saw a 9.7% increase, which was from 74 dB(A) to 81.2 dB(A). Mundka recorded a 9.1% rise to 68.2 dB(A). Najafgarh registered an 8.2% increase, while Patparganj and Wazirpur recorded rises of 8.4% and 7.8%, respectively.Among the areas where noise levels fell was Ashok Vihar, which recorded the steepest decline of 8.8%, falling from 74.9 dB(A) to 68.3 dB(A).Connaught Place saw a 5.7% drop, while Vivek Vihar recorded a 1.7% drop. Karol Bagh, which had the highest reading this year, registered a marginal fall from 89.2 dB(A) in 2025 to 89.1 dB(A).The DPCC report put the overall noise range on Diwali between 57.5 and 89.1 dB(A).
