People who let off firecrackers in Delhi during Diwali will face up to six months in jail, the city’s environment minister has announced amid worsening pollution levels in the Indian capital. The government has also imposed a fine of 200 Indian rupees ($2.41; £2.15) on those caught bursting firecrackers. The rules are part of a broader ban on firecrackers announced in September to help curb extreme pollution. Delhi is the world’s most polluted capital. Various factors such as factory emissions, traffic fumes, and general weather patterns contribute to the high pollution levels in the city.

The air turns particularly toxic every winter when farmers in neighbouring states burn crop stubble. And fireworks during the Hindu festival Diwali worsen the air quality as low wind speeds trap the pollutants in the lower atmosphere. The smog-filled air, which covers the city during this time, contains dangerously high levels of fine particulate matter called PM2.5 – tiny particles that can clog lungs and cause a host of diseases.(BBC)…[+]