Three Indian cities are among the world’s 10 most polluted cities after Diwali

New Delhi, Nov. 13 (Reuters) – Two Indian cities joined New Delhi among the world’s 10 worst cities for pollution on Monday morning, a day after revelers set off firecrackers for the annual Hindu festival of Diwali, with heavy smog in the air. the light

The capital New Delhi, as it often does, took the top spot. It had an air quality index (AQI) number of 420, according to Swiss group IQAir.

But Kolkata in India’s east also joined the top 10, ranking fourth with an AQI of 196, while the financial capital of Mumbai was eighth with an AQI of 163.

An AQI level of 400-500 affects healthy people and is dangerous for people with existing diseases, while a level of 150-200 causes discomfort for people with asthma, lung and heart problems. Levels 0-50 are considered good.

A thick smog started spreading over New Delhi from Sunday night and its AQI reached a dangerous 680 after midnight.

Authorities impose a ban on fireworks in the capital every year, but the bans appear to be rarely enforced.

Air quality in India deteriorates every year ahead of winter, with cold air carrying pollution from vehicles, industry, construction dust and burning of agricultural waste.

Authorities in New Delhi postponed an earlier decision to restrict the use of vehicles after Friday’s rains brought some respite from a week of exposure to toxic air.

The local administration plans to review the decision after Diwali.

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