India, Oct. 22 -- The extended Diwali celebrations and rising number of farm fires led to a decline in air quality in Punjab on Wednesday.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said that the industrial town of Mandi Gobindgarh was the most polluted place in the state at 11am on Wednesday with an air quality index (AQI) of 295, which falls in the very poor category.

It was followed by 268 in Jalandhar, 243 each in Amritsar and Ludhiana, 241 in Khanna, 232 each in Rupnagar and Patiala.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, 401 and 450 severe and above 450 severe plus.

Punjab Pollution Control Board data shows the average AQI was poorer ...