India bans firecrackers in capital city ahead of Hindu festival Diwali

NEW DELHI, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- India announced Wednesday the banning of the storage, sale and use of firecrackers in the capital city of New Delhi ahead of the Hindu festival Diwali, a local government official said.

The ban will remain in force until Jan. 1, 2023 due to concerns about possible air pollution in the city, Delhi's environment minister Gopal Rai said in a statement posted on social media.

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