Severe Smog Engulfs North India Following Diwali Celebrations

A thick layer of smog blanketed Delhi and other parts of North India a day after Diwali, plunging air quality into the 'very poor' and 'severe' categories. Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 350, with several areas crossing the 400 mark. In Haryana, cities like Bahadurgarh and Gurugram were among the worst-hit, while Punjab also recorded 'poor' air quality. The sharp deterioration, attributed to firecracker emissions and unfavourable weather, has triggered a major public health crisis across the region.