Continuous bursting of firecrackers even a day after Diwali left Delhi shrouded in a toxic haze on Wednesday, with the air quality index (AQI) touching 342 in the 'very poor' category.

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Delhi woke up to its most polluted post-Diwali morning in five years, as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels shot up to 488 micrograms per cubic metre -- more than triple the pre-festival average of 156.6.

The study by Climate Trends, which examined data from 2021 to 2025, showed a consistent pattern of pollution spikes during Diwali night and the following morning. But this year's surge, the highest since 2021, marked a new peak.

In comparison, post-Diwali PM2.5 levels rose from 163.1 to 454.5 in 2021, 129.3 to 168 in 2022, 92.9 to 319.7 in

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