Air quality in New Delhi, India reaches "severe" level of pollution
The city's air quality index (AQI) entered the "severe" range in various parts of the capital, which led to the closure of some schools for two days.
In a report from Reuters, during the winter months, Delhi experiences thick smog due to the trapping of construction dust, vehicle emissions, and smoke from crop stubble burning in neighboring states, resulting in a surge of respiratory illnesses among its 20 million residents.
On Friday, residents reported eye irritation, itchy throats, and the air turning a dense gray, with the AQI hovering around 480 at some monitoring stations. An AQI of 0-50 is considered good, while a range of 400-500 affects healthy individuals and poses a danger to those with pre-existing health conditions.
New Delhi topped a real-time list of the world's most polluted cities on Friday, with an AQI of 611 categorized as "hazardous" by the Swiss group IQAir.
The region's Commission for Air Quality Management attributed the sudden spike in AQI to unfavorable meteorological conditions, an increase in farm fires, and north-westerly winds transporting pollutants to Delhi.
As a response, authorities ordered primary schools to remain closed on Friday and Saturday, and most construction work in the region has been suspended. Some air purifier filter suppliers reported shortages due to the sudden surge in demand.
This year, the deteriorating air quality has cast a shadow over the cricket World Cup hosted by India, with Mumbai also experiencing a rise in pollution levels. Delhi is set to host a World Cup match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on Monday.
In the previous year, Bhiwadi in northern India was ranked as the country's most polluted city and third in the world, according to IQAir. New Delhi was fourth on the list, with Lahore in Pakistan and Hotan in China taking the top spots.
