Delhi ranks as world's most polluted major city ahead of Diwali

Air quality monitoring organizations recorded alarming pollution levels across Delhi on Saturday morning, with Swiss-based air quality index provider IQAir registering a reading of 581 on the US AQI scale. The measurement positioned the capital ahead of all other major cities globally in terms of pollution severity.

India's Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) documented similarly concerning conditions, recording an AQI of 363 in the "very poor" category. The divergence in readings reflects different measurement methodologies employed by international and domestic monitoring agencies, though both indicate severely compromised air quality across the national capital.

The timing of the pollution spike, occurring just before Diwali festivities, has raised fresh concerns about the compounding effect of festival celebrations on Delhi's already fragile air quality. Seasonal factors including meteorological conditions that trap pollutants close to the ground, combined with emissions from vehicles, industrial activity, and agricultural burning in surrounding regions, have contributed to the hazardous air conditions.

Experts have cautioned residents, particularly vulnerable populations including children, elderly citizens, and those with respiratory conditions, to limit outdoor exposure and take preventive health measures during the period of severe air pollution.