NEW DELHI, Nov 13 (Portal) – Two Indian cities joined New Delhi on Monday as among the world’s 10 most polluted cities. A day after revelers set off firecrackers for Diwali, the annual Hindu festival, thick smoke hung in the air.
As is often the case, the capital New Delhi took the top spot. According to the Swiss group IQAir, it had an air quality index (AQI) of 407, putting it in the “hazardous” category.
Financial capital Mumbai came sixth with an AQI of 157, while Kolkata in the east came seventh with an AQI of 154.
An AQI value of 400-500 affects healthy people and is dangerous for people with existing diseases, while an AQI value of 150-200 causes discomfort for people with asthma, lung and heart problems. Values from 0-50 are considered good.
A thick layer of smog began circulating in New Delhi on Sunday night, with the AQI reaching an alarming 680 just after midnight.
[1/5]A dog crosses a street on a smoggy morning in New Delhi, India, November 13, 2023. Portal/Anushree Fadnavis acquires license rights
Every year authorities ban fireworks in the capital, but these bans rarely appear to be enforced.
Lawmaker Saket Gokhale posted a letter on
The Delhi Police spokesman did not respond to multiple calls from Portal seeking comment.
Air quality in northern India worsens every year before winter, when the cold air traps pollutants from vehicles, industry, construction dust and the burning of agricultural waste.
New Delhi authorities have postponed an earlier decision to restrict the use of vehicles after a brief spell of rain on Friday brought a respite from a week of toxic air.
The local government said it plans to maintain its ban on construction and keep schools closed to protect people from the pollution.
Reporting by Tanvi Mehta; Edited by Edwina Gibbs and Miral Fahmy
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