India, Nov. 6 -- Amid rising air pollution concerns in the national capital, social media is abuzz with screenshots claiming that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi and its surrounding areas has reached 999 and above.

These screenshots seem to be old. They have been circulating on social media since Diwali, when firecrackers were burst, considered a big cause of the AQI spike in Delhi every year.

Even as people claim that the AQI has shot up to 999, these assertions are not supported by official data from monitoring stations.

"AQI jumps to 999 from 194 in Delhi due to Diwali firecrackers. It's more than 999 but this meter could measure up to 999 only," one of the posts on X read. The user had shared a video from Diwali celebrations, ...