New Delhi: Delhi’s notorious air pollution is well known not just in the country but across the world.
But two more Indian cities joined the nation’s Capital to be among the world’s worst 10 for pollution on Monday morning, the day after revellers freaked out with firecrackers on Diwali, defying bans in respective states, reported Reuters.
According to Swiss group IQAir, New Delhi took top spot with air quality index (AQI) mark of 420 to be placed in ‘hazardous’ category.
Kolkata, with an AQI of 196, was fourth after a night of endless Diwali revelry. Mumbaikars also didn’t care for rules and environment as the financial capital of Mumbai recorded an AQI level of 163 to take the eighth spot.
The poisonous air in Delhi seemed to be improving following some showers couple of days ago. But all that was undone as the public burst firecrackers with gay abandon all night.
A thick layer of smog circulated in New Delhi from Sunday night, sending its AQI to an alarming 680 a little after midnight.
An AQI level of 400-500 impacts healthy people and is dangerous for those with existing diseases, while AQI of around 150-200 brings discomfort to people with asthma, lung and heart problems.
Air quality in the country, especially northern and eastern India, deteriorates every year after the festival season and ahead of winter, as cold air traps pollutants from vehicles, industry, construction dust and agricultural waste burning.
