Three Indian cities among world's 10 most polluted after Diwali festivities

Children lighting fireworks to celebrate Deepavali in New Delhi, India, on Nov 12, 2023. — Reuters

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Two Indian cities joined New Delhi to become among the world's top 10 most polluted cities on Monday, with smoke heavy in the air a day after revellers let loose with firecrackers for Diwali, the annual Hindu festival of light.

The capital New Delhi took, as it often does, the top spot. It had an air quality index (AQI) figure of 407, putting it the "hazardous" category, according to Swiss group IQAir.