New Delhi's air quality fell to the worst possible category. India's Central Pollution Control Board made that announcement Friday, and authorities expect it to get worse.
In less than two weeks, people will be celebrating Diwali, a Hindu festival, with countless fireworks. Farmers close to the area will also be burning crop waste to prepare for next season. Reuters reports the "deadly cocktail" will add more toxic air pollution, alarming doctors and environmentalists.
The board cautioned people in the area to wear masks outside, avoid being active around dusk and dawn and to keep asthma medicine close to those who need it, according to the Associated Press.
India's cities are no strangers to pollution. The World Health Organization recently listed the most polluted cities in the world, and all but one of the top 10 are in India.
