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New Delhi finds itself shrouded in a thick layer of toxic haze as air quality continues to languish in the “severe category.” The Indian capital, along with Kolkata and Mumbai, ranks among the world’s most polluted cities today, as reported by Swiss Group IQAir.
As of 7:30 am today, New Delhi once again claimed the top spot on the real-time air quality index (AQI) list, with a staggering AQI of 483. Lahore followed closely behind at 371. Kolkata and Mumbai were no exceptions, ranking among the five cities most severely impacted by air pollution, registering AQIs of 206 and 162, respectively.
Officials attribute this dire situation to a combination of seasonal factors, including low temperatures, minimal wind circulation, and the ongoing practice of stubble burning in neighboring states, all contributing to a surge in air pollutants.
For the 20 million residents of New Delhi, the consequences have been palpable. Many have reported eye irritation and itchy throats, while the once-blue sky has transformed into a dense grey haze, with AQI levels surpassing 550 in some monitoring stations.
To put the severity in context, an AQI of 0-50 is considered good, while readings between 400-500 are detrimental to the health of both the general populace and particularly hazardous for individuals with pre-existing health conditions.
The concentration of fine particulate matter, referred to as PM2.5, has soared to 523 mg per cubic meter, which is a staggering 104.6 times higher than the permissible guidelines set by the World Health Organization. Prolonged exposure to these minuscule particles, about 30 times finer than a human hair, is associated with chronic heart and respiratory conditions due to their ability to penetrate the bloodstream through the lungs.
In response to this dire situation, a crisis plan has been activated in the national capital. This plan includes suspending construction activities, promoting the use of public transportation, and encouraging remote work when feasible.
In the backdrop of these alarming pollution levels, India is currently hosting the Cricket World Cup. To mitigate the situation, organizers have taken the step of banning fireworks at matches in Mumbai and Delhi, seeking to avoid exacerbating the already hazardous air quality.
Bangladesh is scheduled to play Sri Lanka in Delhi on Monday, but the team canceled a training session on a previous Friday due to the persistent haze. Unfortunately, the likelihood of improved air quality for their upcoming match remains uncertain.
