India’s New Delhi is often ranked among the world’s most polluted cities in international measurements. Banned fireworks already worsened air quality.
In India’s capital New Delhi, air quality has reached a level classified as hazardous to health due to the Hindu festival of lights.
The city of 33 million inhabitants is often ranked among the world’s most polluted cities in international measurements.
Because of the festival of lights, people have been burning firecrackers and other fireworks on Friday, worsening the air quality already. On Friday, seven times the amount of small particles harmful to health was measured in the air compared to the limit value classified as safe by the World Health Organization (WHO).
New Delhi authorities have banned the sale of papats since 2017, but enforcing the ban has proven difficult. The authorities have justified the ban by saving human lives.
Air pollution increases in India, especially in winter, when the smoke from burning crop residues is carried from the countryside to the cities. Industrial companies operating without emission control and burning coal also increase pollution without it.
It is estimated that more than one million people in India die each year from diseases linked to air pollution.
Source: AP