Thick smog blanketed the Indian capital on Thursday as the annual ritual of choking on incredibly polluted winter air once again gripped New Delhi. Authorities ordered many students to stay home as smog delayed more than 300 flights, prompted health warnings and a halt to all construction activity in the city.
Air quality in this densely populated city of about 33 million people climbed into the highest “severe” category for the first time on Wednesday, according to the World Health Organization. Air quality index evaluations. With an AQI above 450 on Thursday afternoon, Delhi was grappling with the worst air pollution of any city in the world.
Any reading above 150 on the AQI index – which measures the levels of five key pollutants harmful to human health in the air at any given time – is considered unhealthy. When the AQI reaches 301 or higher, it is considered an emergency and dangerous for everyone.
ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty
Higher AQI levels pose serious health risksespecially in children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems, all of whom can be affected at even lower levels.
Indian authorities have advised Delhi residents to limit their outdoor activities, and on Thursday evening the Delhi government announced enhanced anti-pollution measures, banning all non-essential construction and demolition work and restricting the entry of buses and trucks in the city. Elementary school students were asked to move to remote learning on Friday.
The use of diesel generators was also to be restricted from Friday.
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Thursday issued an advisory to air travelers, saying “low visibility procedures” had been adopted at the busy airport. Earlier, IndiGo airline had asked passengers to keep an eye on their flight status and leave early for the airport due to low visibility on the roads around the airport.
In addition to hundreds of flights delayed on Wednesday, at least 10 flights were diverted from Delhi.
Delhi’s air quality began to deteriorate in early November, when fireworks lit up the sky for the Hindu religious festival of Diwali.
The city is experiencing a significant increase in air pollution every winter due to several factors, including the incineration of agricultural waste in the neighboring states of Haryana and Punjab.
Last year, air quality readings reached record highs, prompting authorities to close schools for weeks.
