NEW DELHI - Air quality in India's capital and a few other cities deteriorated as millions of people celebrated Diwali (Deepavali) by setting off firecrackers.
A toxic haze enveloped New Delhi and other areas surrounding the national capital after Monday night's revelry.
Delhi's air quality index (AQI), which measures fine particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter (PM2.5), reached 360 on Tuesday morning, a level deemed hazardous to respiratory health.
The Indian capital, long plagued by chronic air pollution, experiences a surge in PM2.5 levels each year during Diwali due to the widespread use of firecrackers.
Air pollution increased multifold between Monday afternoon and night and a grey haze reduced visibility on Tuesday.
A number of fire incidents, blamed on firecrackers, were also reported from across India. - BERNAMA