Home to more than 30 million people, Delhi and its surrounding metropolitan areas consistently rank at the top of global air pollution rankings. The problem intensifies between mid-October and January, when heating season begins and farmers burn their fields for crops.
India. deadly smog
On Thursday, Delhi's AQI index crossed 580. Delhi National Capital Territory Government Chief Secretary Atishi Marlena announced the closure of all schools and kindergartens until further notice. Students will be taking classes remotely.
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“Due to rising pollution levels, all primary schools in Delhi will move to distance learning until further guidelines are issued,” Delhi Chief Minister Atishi announced on the X social media platform on Thursday.
Operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport have also been restricted. Visibility was reduced to 300 meters, authorities in the capital reported. On Wednesday, some flights operated in near-zero visibility. According to Flightradar24 data, 88 percent of departures and 54 percent of arrivals were delayed.
The government also called for a ban on unnecessary construction work and restrictions on heating apartments with coal.
There are many patients in hospitals with health problems caused by smog. Patients mainly suffer from lung disease and food poisoning. In Agra, about 200 kilometers from Delhi, the smog was so thick that the famous monument, the Taj Mahal, was completely hidden from view.
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India's Supreme Court ruled in October that clean air is a fundamental human right and ordered both the central and state governments to take action. However, political conflicts prevent you from performing certain tasks.
Closed restaurants in Pakistan
Smog is also a problem outside India. A state of emergency was declared in Pakistan's most populous province, Punjab, after hundreds of people were hospitalized with symptoms of poisoning. Holidays for medical workers have been abolished.
Authorities have closed schools and universities, and restaurants can only open until 4 p.m. Construction work and burning in the area were also prohibited.
Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, became the city with the worst air pollution on Thursday. The AQI (Air Quality Index) reached 1.1 thousand. By the way, there were less than 50 people in Warsaw at that time.
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