Delhi's air is so polluted that everyone in the Capital may have their breathing affected today morning, when they woke up to a smog caused by Diwali fireworks.

User Ritika Kapoor sent us a picture of smog from Shalimar Bagh, New #Delhi! #DayAfterDiwali pic.twitter.com/rG0nh3ydx8 — Indiatimes (@indiatimes) October 31, 2016

In numbers

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), respirable pollutants, PM 2.5 and PM 10, were clocked at 283 and 517 micrograms per cubic metre at 8 PM last night. They should be at 60 and 100 respectively, and anything higher can mean particulate matter embedding itself in your lungs, making its way to your blood stream.

A user sent us this picture of the smog from Dwarka, Delhi #DayAfterDiwali #AirQualityIndex pic.twitter.com/GeMk6sjxFB — Indiatimes (@indiatimes) October 31, 2016

Real-time ambient air quality data: Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) from RK Puram, one of the Capital's most polluted spots

The day after Diwali, Central Delhi air is the worst and measured 999 on the Air Quality Index. Gurgaon was a surprisingly clean 70 #Diwali pic.twitter.com/WjW7inQsyT — Indiatimes (@indiatimes) October 31, 2016

PM10 was 4,273 µg/m³: 10.55 PM

PM10 permissible limit: 100 µg/m³

PM2.5 was 748µg/m³: 2.30am

PM 2.5 is permissible at 60µg/m³

Therefore. PM10 readings rose by 42 times and PM2.5 readings rose by 12.5 times

Smog visuals from Vijay Chowk in Delhi pic.twitter.com/9NtW7tQyO5 — ANI (@ANI_news) October 31, 2016



With such a reading, people have been asked not to step out, as it is dangerous for children, elders and those with heart or lung diseases.

Delhi: Air quality at 500(Severe) around Lodhi Road today morning pic.twitter.com/wv3FUVG4fP — ANI (@ANI_news) October 31, 2016

Firecracker pollution isn't the only culprit - it is a catalyst to Delhi bigger pollution problem, of automobile traffic, dust, farm smoke blowing in from Punjab and Haryana as farmers clear their fields - with fire that burns in a band ranging 250 km from east to west.

agencies

US Embassy New Delhi's PM2.5 reading is actually maxed out right now. What. #Pollution pic.twitter.com/0s8SYmMlp7 — Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) October 31, 2016

Slow winds also don't allow the airborne pollution to dissipate, trapping Delhi in a poisonous greenhouse.