Two Indian cities, along with New Delhi, were included among the top 10 most polluted cities in the world on Monday morning. The air was thick with smoke, after the day that celebrants let off firecrackers for Diwali, the annual Hindu festival of light. As usual, the capital New Delhi secured the top position. According to Swiss group IQAir, it has an air quality index (AQI) value of 420, placing it in the "hazardous" category. Mumbai, the nation's financial capital, came in eighth place with an AQI of 163, while Kolkata, the eastern city of India, came in fourth with an AQI of 196, rounding out the top 10. A level of 400–500 on the AQI affects healthy individuals and poses a threat to those who already have illnesses, whereas a level of 150–200 causes discomfort for those who have heart, lung, and asthma issues. A score of 0 to 50 is regarded as good. New Delhi's AQI reached a concerning 680 just after midnight on Sunday night as a result of a heavy layer of smog starting to move through the city.

Key Points

• Two Indian cities, along with New Delhi, were included among the top 10 most polluted cities in the world on Monday morning.

• New Delhi's AQI reached a concerning 680 just after midnight on Sunday night as a result of a heavy layer of smog starting to move through the city.

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