Hospitals across Indian capital see surge in respiratory illnesses as air pollution worsens after celebration of Hindu festival

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 341 as of 1 pm on Wednesday, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. However, certain localities such as Punjabi Bagh and Wazirpur recorded ‘severe’ levels, with AQI readings of 419 and 394, respectively, Hindustan Times reported.

Post-Diwali air pollution in Delhi surged to alarming levels, with PM 2.5 averaging 488 µg/m³, a 212% increase from pre-Diwali figures. A recent report attributes this spike to firecracker emissions,

Three days after Diwali celebrations, Delhi continues to battle hazardous air pollution, with the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) firmly in the ‘very poor’ range. On Thursday morning, the average AQI across the capital stood at 325,

Diwali, Delhi’s air quality plunged to ‘severe’ levels, sparking public outrage over rising pollution and perceived government inaction.

Delhi continues to choke three days after Diwali, with air quality plunging into the 'severe' and 'very poor' categories in various parts of the national capital amid GRAP-2 being in effect.

Bhardwaj further claimed that such statements attempted to communalise an environmental issue and divert attention from the government’s failure to control pollution.