{
  "id": 18658485,
  "title": "Delhi world’s most polluted major city on eve of Diwali",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/delhi-worlds-most-polluted-major-city-on-eve-of-diwali",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-07T05:57:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/11/07/delhi-world-s-most-polluted-major-city-on-eve-of-diwali"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Delhi, the world's most polluted major city, was ranked number one by Swiss group IQAir on Saturday morning, as the Indian capital braced for severe pollution on the eve of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. The air quality index for Delhi stood at 581, double the level in Lahore, Pakistan. India has urged schools to move classes online and encouraged people to work from home in anticipation of Diwali on Sunday, a day typically marked by the use of firecrackers, which exacerbate air quality issues. While India's Central Pollution Control Board reported a slightly lower index of 363, classifying it in the \"very poor\" category, the situation was the worst pre-Diwali air in eight years, according to local media. The annual winter pollution problem arises as cold, dense air traps vehicle emissions, construction dust, and smoke from burning crop waste.",
  "summary": "The festival is usually marked by the widespread use of firecrackers, which further worsens air quality.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Air in India’s capital ranked world’s most polluted on eve of Diwali",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/air-in-indias-capital-ranked-worlds-most-polluted-on-eve-of-diwali",
        "published": "2026-11-07T06:01:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Lights, lamps and rangolis: Foreign embassies in India take part in Diwali celebrations",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/lights-lamps-and-rangolis-foreign-embassies-in-india-take-part-in",
        "published": "2026-11-07T06:05:30.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}