Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, brought joy to millions across India, but in New Delhi, it also ushered in a blanket of toxic smog, pushing air quality to dangerous levels, The Associated Press reports.
According to SAFAR, India’s premier environmental monitoring agency, the capital’s air quality index plunged into the “severe” category on Friday. Levels of deadly particulate matter in many areas soared to seven times the World Health Organization’s safe limit, a stark reminder of the city’s ongoing air pollution crisis.
Despite a ban on traditional firecrackers implemented in 2017, residents of New Delhi continue to flout the rule, opting for firework displays over environmentally friendly alternatives or light shows. This defiance, coupled with the seasonal burning of crop residue in neighboring states, has exacerbated the city’s pollution problem.
Cooler winter temperatures trap the smoke, further worsening the situation. This deadly cocktail of pollutants, which includes emissions from industries lacking proper pollution controls and the country’s coal-powered electricity generation, has made New Delhi a perennial contender for the title of most polluted city in the world.
The consequences of this air pollution crisis are dire. Studies estimate that over a million Indians die annually due to air pollution-related diseases. Tiny particulate matter in polluted air can deeply lodge in the lungs, leading to a range of serious health problems.
