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Firecracker ban defiance makes New Delhi the world's most polluted city

New Delhi topped charts on Friday as the world's most polluted city after revellers defying a ban on firecrackers to commemorate Diwali, the Hindu celebration of lights, helped drive air quality to hazardous levels.

Thick smog wreathed the Indian capital, shrouding the presidential palace in the main district and the surrounding gardens popular with joggers and cyclists, after Thursday's. events.

The air quality index stood at 348, stated Swiss firm IQ Air,. taking pollution into the hazardous category, pressing Delhi to. the top of a real-time list as the world's most contaminated city. Local government officials have actually prohibited usage of firecrackers. throughout Diwali and the winter over the last couple of years, in line. with Supreme Court directives, but have actually had trouble imposing. the procedure in spite of the danger of jail.

Some Hindu groups say the ban disrupts observance of. the festival, a position the Delhi federal government has formerly. countered by saying the restriction aims to conserve lives. Friday's smog likewise coincided with waste burning on farms in. northern India that aggravates air quality at the start of. winter season each year as cold, heavy air traps toxins from a. range of sources.

(source: Reuters)