India’s Diwali celebrations turn New Delhi’s air ‘hazardous’, land Mumbai, Kolkata on list of most polluted cities
The capital New Delhi took, as it often does, the top spot. It had an air quality index (AQI) figure of 420, putting it the ‘hazardous’ category, according to Swiss group IQAir.
‘Really bad’: toxic smog chokes India’s Delhi amid fears of health disaster
‘Really bad’: toxic smog chokes India’s Delhi amid fears of health disaster
An AQI level of 400-500 impacts healthy people and is dangerous to those with existing diseases, while a level of 150-200 brings discomfort to people with asthma, lung and heart problems. Levels of 0-50 are considered good.
A thick layer of smog had begun to circulate in New Delhi from Sunday night, sending its AQI to an alarming 680 a little after midnight.
Every year authorities impose bans on firecrackers in the capital, but only rarely do those bans appear to be enforced.
India’s smog is now so bad, motorcyclists can buy ‘air-purifying’ helmets
India’s smog is now so bad, motorcyclists can buy ‘air-purifying’ helmets
Air quality in India deteriorates every year ahead of winter, when cold air traps pollutants from vehicles, industry, construction dust and agricultural waste burning.
New Delhi’s authorities postponed an earlier decision to restrict use of vehicles after a brief spell of rain on Friday brought some respite from a week-long exposure to toxic air.
The local government plans to review the decision after Diwali.
