Diwali fireworks choke Delhi, angering Indians

Levels of pollutants in the air were 30 times the World Health Organisation's recommended level in one neighbourhood.

Authorities had warned that Delhi faced a polluted Diwali because of factors like humidity and wind speed.

Diwali, the most important Hindu festival in north India, celebrates the victory of good over evil.

How bad is the smog?

On Monday morning, visibility across the city was extremely low, thanks to a thick blanket of smog covering the city. Residents were advised to stay indoors.

Levels of tiny particulate matter (known as PM 2.5) that reaches deep into the lungs more than doubled within a few hours on Monday to 750 micrograms per cubic metre in the worst affected parts,

India's Central Pollution Control Board said

That is 30 times a mean guideline set by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 25 micrograms per cubic metre on average over a 24-hour period.

The US embassy in Delhi said its air pollution index late on Sunday had breached the "hazardous" upper limit level of 500, at which it stops measuring levels of particulate matter.

Gufran Beig, chief scientist at India's state-run System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (Safar), told AFP news agency: "Almost 60-70% of the smoke came from the firecrackers."

Safar said there was a "serious risk" of respiratory problems for people living in Delhi and advised against physical activities.

Why are fireworks so popular?

For some they are an opportunity to show off wealth. Business families spend hundreds of thousands of rupees to buy fireworks which are then used in the course of a single night.

Fireworks are also big business in India, with thousands of families employed in related factories.

Before Diwali there were several campaigns asking people to cut down on the use of fireworks. Similar initiatives in the past have got little attention.

Fireworks in India

• $450m - expected to be spent on fireworks this year, mostly during Diwali
• $4 - approximate cost for a box of basic 12-shot multi-coloured fireworks
• 90% of Indian fireworks are made in southern Tamil Nadu state
• Up to 40% of fireworks come from China

How have people reacted to the smog?

Many have been very angry. The hashtag #smog was a trending topic on Twitter India. "Good show last night, Delhi. Now choke!" read one angry tweet from user Pratik Prasenjit.

But many others have said the roots of Delhi's air pollution go beyond Diwali and its firecrackers.