As Diwali and stubble burning create a thick blanket of smog over northern states, air quality plummets to dangerous levels, particularly in Delhi NCR, which records the highest AQI every year around this time.

India's capital territory of Delhi is keen to use artificial rain to fight air pollution this year, its Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Tuesday, as deteriorating air quality in the region led to an increase in respiratory illnesses.