A thick blanket of toxic smog enveloped northern India on Monday, with air quality in New Delhi reaching its highest levels of pollution this year following an overnight dense fog. The smog, a toxic mixture of smoke and fog, is a seasonal occurrence, with cold air trapping dust, emissions, and smoke from illegal farm fires in surrounding states during winter.
Visibility dropped to 100 meters (about 109 yards) in both New Delhi and Chandigarh, though flights and trains continued to operate, albeit with some delays. The national capital’s 24-hour air quality index (AQI) reached 484, classified as “severe plus” – the highest level this year. According to IQAir, a Swiss group, New Delhi topped the list as the most polluted city in the world, with an AQI of 1,081, and particulate matter (PM2.5) levels 130.9 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended limits.
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Authorities have responded by closing schools, moving classes online, and imposing restrictions on construction and vehicle movements due to unfavorable meteorological conditions and low wind speeds. The significant pollution is largely attributed to farm fires, which contribute up to 40% of the pollution in Delhi. On Sunday alone, satellites detected 1,334 farm fires across six states, the highest number recorded in the past four days.
Despite the hazardous air quality, many residents continued their routines, though many wore masks and reported symptoms like eye irritation and difficulty breathing. The weather department also predicted “dense to very dense fog” for several northern states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan, exacerbating the pollution situation.
