India’s capital New Delhi and its surroundings are bathed in heavy smog. Elementary schools will be closed at least until Friday.
In India, air pollution is at a record high level.
Today, the megalopolis of Delhi has been the world’s most polluted urban area. For example, on Friday the emissions were many times higher than the recommendations of the World Health Organization WHO. The Guardian magazine writes about it.
In the capital, New Delhi, and the entire Delhi metropolitan area, emissions are at a high level all year round, but in autumn, emissions from industry and traffic are combined with smoke from burning straw from the countryside. The smog began to thicken during the week ending.
According to IQAir, a Swiss technology company that monitors air quality the air quality index was 480 in some measurement points, while the limit values for good air quality are normally between 0 and 50. For comparison, the reading in Helsinki was 19 on Sunday morning. Today, the second most polluted city in the world is Pakistan’s Lahore.
Bans have little effect
India has banned all non-essential construction and repair work in the Delhi area. Vehicles are allowed to drive in shifts. Smog, which is harmful to health, causes respiratory problems, eye diseases and headaches for city dwellers.
In India, coal is still an important source of energy, and emissions have been increasing over the past seven years.
The high emission readings in the capital region are now partially explained by emissions from agriculture. In the states of Punjab and Haryana, fields are burnt before the planting season. Smoke is transported to the capital with the winds. For example, more than a thousand fires have been set every day in Punjab this week.
Emissions are also generated at waste treatment plants.
Schools closed, cricket match cancelled
Air pollution affects the everyday life of city dwellers in many ways. Schools have been closed and students have been transferred to distance learning. From the beginning of the week, respirators were worn during exercise classes outdoors.
The Cricket World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, a popular sport in Asia, was cancelled. The match will not be played in New Delhi tomorrow. The teams canceled practice for the rest of the week due to the polluted air. Patients of all ages see a doctor for respiratory and eye symptoms.
According to the Lancet, a prestigious medical journal, 1.67 million air pollution-related deaths were reported in India. The University of Chicago’s Institute for Energy Policy, on the other hand, estimates that the death of a city dweller who breathes air pollution may be premature by up to 12 years due to polluted air.
AFP