Goa, Oct. 21 -- The air quality across Delhi-NCR deteriorated sharply on Diwali day, breaching alarming levels despite repeated warnings from environmental authorities. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed to 345, up from 326 recorded the previous day.

Four of the city's monitoring stations registered AQI readings above 400, placing them firmly in the "severe" category. On Diwali evening alone, 34 of 38 stations across the capital reported air quality in the "red zone," which ranges from "very poor" to "severe."

Among the worst-hit areas were Wazirpur (423), Ashok Vihar (404), and Dwarka (417), where pollution levels soared due to a combination of firecrac...