Delhi: These before and after Diwali firework photos show the toxic effect of pollution (See pics)

New Delhi: As expected, Delhiites woke up to a smog-filled skies following Diwali celebrations on Monday morning.

On Diwali, the national capital recorded PM2.5 levels at nearly 21 times higher than permissible limit on Diwali, October 30.

Diwali fireworks also pushed pollution in Delhi to a dangerous level, the worst in three years, as it turned the air highly toxic due to a deadly cocktail of harmful repairable pollutants and gases, engulfing the city with a cover of thick smog triggering health alarms.

Take a look at these before and after Diwali photos that show the toxic effect of pollution in Delhi,which has been named as one of the world’s most polluted cities by global bodies, including WHO.

These two photos show traffic moving past the landmark India Gate monument in New Delhi before and after the Diwali celebrations: on Friday (top) and Monday (bottom). Altaf Qadri (top) and Tsering Topgyal (bottom)/AP

The New Delhi skyline is seen enveloped in smog on Friday (top) when pollution levels were already far above WHO recommendations, and on Monday (bottom) after fireworks for the Diwali festival sharply exacerbated the problem. Altaf Qadri (top) and Tsering Topgyal (bottom)/AP