New Delhi, Nov 1 (Alliance News): New Delhi topped the charts on Friday as the most polluted city in the world, following widespread use of firecrackers during Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.
Despite a ban on firecrackers, revelers contributed to hazardous air quality levels, with the air quality index soaring to 348, according to Swiss firm IQ Air.
Thick smog blanketed the Indian capital, obscuring landmarks like the presidential palace and nearby parks favored by joggers and cyclists.
Local authorities have struggled to enforce the firecracker ban, established in line with Supreme Court orders, even as violations can lead to jail time.
Some Hindu groups argue that the ban disrupts traditional festival practices, while the Delhi government defends the measure as essential for public health.
The smog also coincides with seasonal waste burning on farms in northern India, which worsens air quality each winter by trapping pollutants in the cold, dense air.
