Hospitals across Indian capital see surge in respiratory illnesses as air pollution worsens after celebration of Hindu festival

A video showing mounds of post-Diwali garbage piled in front of a Shiva statue on Punjabi Bagh Ring Road in Delhi has gone viral, sparking a discussion on civic responsibility during festivals. The clip,

A dense layer of toxic smog covered New Delhi on Tuesday, the morning after millions celebrated Diwali with fireworks that sent air pollution levels soaring across the Indian capital. Revelers lit firecrackers late into the night,

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 341 as of 1 pm on Wednesday, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. However, certain localities such as Punjabi Bagh and Wazirpur recorded ‘severe’ levels, with AQI readings of 419 and 394, respectively, Hindustan Times reported.

Post-Diwali air pollution in Delhi surged to alarming levels, with PM 2.5 averaging 488 µg/m³, a 212% increase from pre-Diwali figures. A recent report attributes this spike to firecracker emissions,

The Hospitality industry in the city is expected to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Government of NCT of Delhi to reduce the fee for big

Bhardwaj further claimed that such statements attempted to communalise an environmental issue and divert attention from the government’s failure to control pollution.

Diwali, derived from the word “Deepavali,” meaning “a row of lights,” is typically celebrated by socializing and exchanging gifts. The dates of the festival are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, typically falling in late October or early November. Shoppers crowded markets to buy flowers, lanterns and candles.