New Delhi, Nov. 5 -- Air quality across the country is deteriorating day by day ahead of Diwali. Stubble burning and firecrackers are contributing to increased smoke accumulation in the atmosphere, further worsening air quality and pushing the Air Quality Index (AQI) to alarming levels.

On Thursday, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest pollution levels, with Meerut topping the list of the most polluted cities in the country with an AQI of 987, media report said.

Hapur in Uttar Pradesh ranked second with an AQI of 877, followed by Panipat in Haryana at 842. Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh secured the fourth position with an AQI of 786, while Sonipat in Haryana ranked fifth with an AQI of 781.

The rising pollution levels have raised serious...