Air pollution in India’s capital, Delhi, has reached hazardous levels, choking residents and blanketing the city in thick smog. Monitors recorded pollution levels of 1,500 on the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 15:00 IST (09:30 BST), a staggering 15 times the level the World Health Organization (WHO) considers safe for breathing.
The toxic air has caused widespread disruption, including flight delays and cancellations, prompting authorities to take drastic measures. Schools have been shut down, construction work banned, and the entry of non-essential trucks into the city has been prohibited. Additionally, the Delhi government has asked offices to reduce in-office staff by 50%, urging employees to work from home.
The severe air quality comes just weeks after Lahore, in neighboring Pakistan, also recorded AQI levels above 1,000. Experts warn that Delhi’s pollution problem could worsen in the coming days, potentially requiring even more stringent actions to safeguard public health.
According to the WHO, air with AQI values above 300 is considered hazardous. Delhi’s pollution levels on Monday surpassed this threshold, with the city classified as experiencing “severe plus” conditions by India’s pollution control authority. The situation is exacerbated by the winter months when a combination of plummeting temperatures, smoke, dust, low wind speeds, and crop stubble burning create an annual pollution crisis in northern India and parts of Pakistan.
Chief Minister Atishi of Delhi called the ongoing pollution crisis a “medical emergency” affecting all of northern India. She attributed much of the worsening pollution to unchecked stubble burning in neighboring states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. Atishi criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for not taking adequate steps to address the issue despite its persistence over the past five years. In response, the BJP accused the Delhi government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), of failing to curb the city’s pollution.
The government has also implemented measures to reduce harmful emissions, including a ban on the use of coal, firewood, and diesel generators for non-emergency services. Despite these efforts, residents continue to suffer from the severe air quality. Many have taken to social media to share their experiences, with one user describing waking up with a painful, itchy throat and noting that even air purifiers couldn’t make the air breathable indoors.
“We are breathing in a gas chamber,” another user wrote, calling for a mass protest against the toxic air. As Delhi grapples with its ongoing pollution crisis, experts and residents alike are calling for stronger, long-term solutions to improve air quality and protect public health.
