00:01Toxic air in parts of India's capital, New Delhi, soared to nearly 59 times the World
00:08Health Organization's recommended daily limit on Monday, following a night of fireworks during
00:13the Hindu festival of Deepavali.
00:35Millions of people celebrate the annual festival of lights with fireworks, adding to the toxic
00:41winter smog that blankets one of the world's most polluted capitals.
00:46The city's air pollution is fueled by a combination of vehicle emissions, industrial activity,
00:51and agricultural fires.
00:54Earlier this month, India's Supreme Court ruled that only certified low-polluting fire
00:59crackers could be used during restricted hours over the Deepavali weekend.
01:04But the restrictions are routinely flouted, with fireworks lighting up the night sky and
01:09explosions echoing across the city.
01:28At 9am local time on Monday, New Delhi recorded an air quality index, AQI, of 370, classified
01:38as very poor by the Central Pollution Control Board.
01:42Official data showed readings above 400 in the severe category across several parts of the
01:49city.
01:49Monitoring organization IQ Air, citing data from a city government station, reported PM2.5
01:57concentrations of 879 micrograms per cubic meter in the Mandir Marg area, around 8 hours after
02:05fireworks activity peaked.
02:07That is nearly 59 times the WHO's recommended daily limit for PM2.5 exposure.
02:15Authorities have introduced measures in recent weeks to curb pollution, including restrictions
02:20on traffic and construction.
02:23New Delhi, which is home to more than 30 million people, faces recurring air quality crises during
02:29the winter months.
02:30A 2024 study published in the peer-reviewed journal The Lancet Planetary Health estimated that air
02:38pollution was linked to 3.8 million deaths in India between 2009 and 2019.
