Delhi pollution: Day after Diwali, India capital wakes up to toxic haze

People in the city burst crackers late into Monday night, defying a court order to use only 'green' fireworks.

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People set off fireworks during the festival, which is also observed by Sikhs and Jains, until late on Monday, defying the court's order to use only 'green' fireworks for a limited period of time.

Delhi, which has high pollution through the year due to factors including vehicular emissions and dust, had already seen air quality dipping over the past few days.

On Tuesday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was 360. The AQI measures the level of PM 2.5 - fine particulate matter that can clog lungs and cause a host of diseases - in the air.

Levels between 101 and 200 are considered moderate, while those between 201 and 300 are "poor". Between 301 and 400 is categorised as "very poor" and a figure higher than 400 is considered "severe".