India’s New Delhi has ranked as the world’s most polluted city following widespread fireworks during the Diwali festival, despite a local ban. The city’s air quality index (AQI) soared to a hazardous 348, blanketing the capital in smog and prompting residents to wear masks outdoors. The situation is further aggravated by crop waste burning in northern India. Although AQI ratings classify levels from “good” (0-50) to “hazardous” (301-500), Delhi’s air quality has persistently worsened around Diwali due to firework use, a traditional practice that continues despite legal restrictions and penalties.
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