Those who justify burning crackers giving it a  religious angle are the most stupid people in the world.

Here we're in National Capital of India, where people can't breathe and falling sick due to exposure to toxic air, but data also shows how on the day of Diwali pollution increased!

Till 6pm on Diwali day, Delhi's average hourly particulate matter (PM) 2.5 concentration was within the permissible national standard of 60 micrograms per cubic metre, but pollution levels began to spike from 7pm onwards as firecracker emissions were released into the atmosphere - further aided by calm wind conditions, as reported by HindustanTimes.

This led to a gradual spike in Delhi's PM 2.5 concentration, which touched a peak of 570 micrograms per cubic metre at 1am - nearly 10 times the safe limit, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.

This spike in PM 2.5 concentration is also what led to Delhi's air quality index (AQI) deteriorating to the 'very poor' category - touching a rolling average of 306 (very poor) at 11am - up from Sunday's 4pm average reading of 218 (poor). In the absence of strong winds, this is expected to rise further, likely touching the higher end of the 'very poor' category by the end of this day.

Delhi's hourly PM 2.5 concentration at 6pm was 57 micrograms per cubic metre, which rose to 78 micrograms per cubic metre at 7pm; 114 at 8pm; 179 at 9pm; 296 at 10pm; 445 at 11pm; 558 at midnight, peaking at 570 micrograms per cubic metre at 1am.

PM 2.5 levels then began to gradually dip, touching 563 micrograms per cubic metre at 2am and 556 micrograms per cubic metre at 3am, however, in the absence of strong winds, pollutants were still hanging over the city this morning, having not been able to disperse. Delhi's hourly average PM 2.5 concentration at 10am was 304 micrograms per cubic metre - still five times over the permissible standards.

This sharp rise in pollution levels also reflected in Delhi's 24-hour average AQI, which also began to gradually shoot up post 7pm.