Fewer firecrackers this Diwali, but Delhi pollution level now 'hazardous'

Environment body advised residents of Delhi-NCR to use face masks whenever possible

Air quality in the national capital remained on the negative side on the occasion of Diwali, on Thursday.

On the Air Quality Index, Delhi's Anand Vihar was marked at 740 (Hazardous), Punjabi Bagh was at 466 (Hazardous), while R K Puram was at 298 (Very unhealthy).

Measures under the "very poor" and "severe" categories of the plan came into force on Tuesday, under which the Badarpur Thermal Power Station has been shut and diesel-run generators banned in Delhi, among other actions.

EPCA Chairman Bhure