Air pollution in Delhi reached the “severe” level on Wednesday for the first time this season, as falling temperatures and weaker winds worsened visibility and disrupted some flights.
Delhi surpassed Lahore to become the world’s most polluted city on Swiss group IQAir’s live air quality rankings, with the capital’s 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI) score hitting 418, according to India’s pollution control authority.
The Central Pollution Control Board categorizes AQI scores of 0-50 as “good” and above 401 as “severe,” indicating health risks even for healthy people and severe effects for those with preexisting conditions.
Delhi faces a seasonal struggle with thick smog each winter as cold air traps pollutants, smoke, and emissions, including those from illegal agricultural burning. In response, authorities have previously closed schools, restricted construction, and limited private vehicle use to help control the pollution.
Across the border, Pakistan’s Punjab province, also experiencing toxic air, has imposed bans on outdoor activities, closed schools, and ordered early closures for some businesses this month.
The level of PM2.5 particles—tiny pollutants harmful to respiratory and heart health—reached more than 120 times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit in Delhi on Wednesday, according to IQAir. Meteorologists blamed the severe smog, which brought visibility down to zero in some areas, on high humidity, low winds, and a slight drop in the minimum temperature to 17°C (63°F).
Due to the dense fog, which reduced visibility to under 200 meters (about 650 feet), at least eight flights were diverted from Indira Gandhi International Airport. The India Meteorological Department forecasts that the dense fog will continue over northwest India for another 2-3 days.
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