Two Diwali hotspots in India's best AQI 2025; Kerala's popular town in fourth position

NEW DELHI: With the end of Diwali celebrations, the Air Quality Index (AQI) deteriorated in many Indian cities. The national capital, New Delhi, is leading the way in this regard, even earning the tag of ‘unbreathable city’ for its staggering AQI numbers. Authorities are contemplating introducing strict solutions to combat air pollution in areas including Delhi and nearby cities.

Amid rising air pollution levels, the list of the top ten cities in the country with the best air quality index was released. Four of the top ten cities with the cleanest air are from South India, and among them, one is from Kerala.

Kannur, the fifth largest city in Kerala, is ranked fourth in the country in terms of the best air quality index. Madikeri, nestling the picturesque Coorg in Karnataka, tops the list. Thanjavur city in Tamil Nadu is in second place. Tirunalveli, also from Tamil Nadu, is in third place. Surprisingly, the two Tamil Nadu cities in the list happen to be the epicentre of Diwali celebrations in India, and yet they made it to the best AQI list, a rare feat.

Kannur came in fourth, Aizawl in Mizoram came in fifth, and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh came in sixth. Rishikesh, a city in Uttarakhand, seventh, while Kashipur from Uttarakhand, Jodhpur in Rajasthan, and Dehradun in Uttarakhand were ranked eighth, ninth, and tenth, respectively.