Delhi set for smoggy Diwali as firework sales thrive after two yrs of Covid

Ban, strict fines fail to deter buyers, Air Quality Index at 247, hits 'poor' category on Sunday, a day ahead of Diwali

A restriction-free Diwali after two years of the pandemic has buoyed marketplaces and people eager to return to old-fashioned celebrations. As markets across the country anticipate packed last-minute crowds, the firecracker industry hopes to bounce back, and several retail sectors expect a sales booster this year, in the national capital it’s a case of “the more things change, the more they remain the same”.

The cloud of severe air pollution is looming again in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

Ahead of Diwali, the air quality index of Delhi was recorded at 247, in the “poor” category, on Sunday. According to