Pollution crisis extends across northern plains

The national capital may be synonymous with pollution, but the chokehold of pollution this Diwali covered an area far beyond Delhi. From Haryana to eastern Uttar Pradesh, air quality plunged across the Indo-Gangetic Plains, revealing the depth of the country’s post-Diwali pollution crisis.

- Jayashree Nandi

During the peak of Diwali celebrations, Jind in Haryana recorded the worst air quality index (AQI) in the country on Tuesday, touching 421 in the “severe” zone. Joining it in the “severe” zone was Dharuhera with an AQI of 412. Three other towns from Haryana — Narnaul (AQI of 390), Rohtak (376) and Gurugram (370), all in the “very poor” zone made the notorious distinction of making the list of top five most polluted towns in the country, according to Central Pollution Control Board data.