Due to the increase in pollution levels in Delhi and the presence of smog covering the National Capital, students and parents are anticipating the declaration of school holidays. The AQI in Delhi was 296 at 7 a.

Every year during Diwali a defiance of the Delhi government’s blanket firecracker ban deteriorates the air quality in the capital.

Delhi's PM2.5 levels hit a peak by midnight on Diwali this year, which was 13% higher than the peaks observed last year and in 2022, a recent analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) showed. “The Diwali night this year had higher nitrogen ...

(AP Video: Shonal Ganguly and Manish Swarup) A man wears a face mask as he jogs in the early morning smog, the day after the Hindu festival Diwali, in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) A commuter rides in the early morning ...

A thick layer of toxic smog cloaked India's capital on Friday as smoke from firecrackers used to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, pushed air pollution to hazardous levels.

New Delhi topped global pollution charts on Friday, partly due to revellers defying a ban on firecrackers to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.

Prolonged exposure to “very poor” air can cause discomfort and respiratory problems. It can also provoke skin and eye irritation, and contribute to serious health conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, emphysema, and cancer.

The air quality in Delhi has reached concerning levels, with Anand Vihar recording an AQI of 427, the highest in the city.