New Delhi: The national capital woke up to a haze of smoke and toxic air on Diwali morning, as the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 335 at 8 am, placing Delhi firmly in the "very poor" category. The overnight bursting of firecrackers not only caused severe noise pollution but also blanketed the city in smog, threatening public health and visibility across key areas.

Of the city’s approximately 38 monitoring stations, most recorded AQI levels exceeding 300, signaling very poor air quality. Anand Vihar (414) and Wazirpur (407) were among the worst-hit areas, falling into the "severe" category. Meanwhile, two stations, Sri Aurobindo Marg (165) and DTU (198), recorded levels in the "moderate" range. To contextualize, an AQI between 0–50 i

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