WATCH: Smog blankets New Delhi after Diwali celebrations

New Delhi was covered in smog on Monday after Diwali celebrations, with air-quality monitors recording hazardous pollution levels. The conditions pose significant health risks to nearly everyone and highlight the city’s recurring struggle with severe autumn air pollution.

Cooler weather and lighter winds trap pollutants, including vehicle fumes, near the ground, while crop burning in neighbouring states adds smoke. More than a billion people in India celebrate Diwali; after a Supreme Court ruling, so-called green firecrackers were permitted in Delhi during limited three-hour periods over the holiday weekend, despite the usual restrictions on fireworks.