New Delhi: Firecracker bursting during Diwali has increased the pollution level in various parts of the country, with toxic fumes from fireworks raising the particulate matter content in the air to five-six times higher than the permissible limit.

According to the National Air Quality Index provided by the Central Pollution Control Board in ten cities, the prominent pollutant PM 2.5 was hovering between 200 and 500 in cities like Muzaffarpur, Lucknow, Faridabad, Kanpur and Agra.