A view of New Delhi during the Diwali festival Photo: India Express

New Delhi-About 2.51 million people died in India due to diseases linked to air, water and other forms of pollution, according to a new study published in The Lancet medical journal. 

The Lancet report found India accounted for about 28 percent of an estimated 9 million pollution-linked deaths worldwide in 2015. It is the highest in the world.

Real time pollution data appeared alarming on October 21, when India is celebrating its Diwali festival. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s recorded PM2.5 and PM10 at 1342 and 1179 micro-grams per cubic meter at around 8 am on October 20.