New Delhi Second Most Polluted City In The World, Kolkata And Mumbai Follow Suit

A thick layer of hazardous haze enveloped New Delhi, the capital of India, on Monday leading to the closure of some schools due to a severe deterioration in the air quality index (AQI). In real-time data compiled by the Swiss group IQAir, Pakistan claimed the top position as the world's most polluted country, with its city of Lahore registering an AQI of 405 in the hazardous category, followed closely by Delhi, India, with a reading of 395.

According to IQAir, Pakistan surpassed New Delhi in terms of air pollution levels on Monday, outpacing other major cities around the world. New Delhi was followed by Kolkata and Mumbai, both in India, in terms of AQI rankings. Regional authorities attributed this surge in air pollutants to a combination of lower temperatures, a lack of wind, and the burning of crop stubble in neighboring states.

The residents of New Delhi, a city of 20 million people, experienced discomfort with symptoms like eye irritation and itchy throats as the air took on a dense grey hue, with the AQI reaching as high as 480 at some monitoring stations.

An AQI of 0-50 is considered good, while a range of 400-500 is harmful to both healthy individuals and those with pre-existing health conditions.

This year, the deteriorating air quality has cast a shadow over the cricket World Cup hosted by India, with even Mumbai, the financial capital, suffering from increased pollution levels.

The concentration of toxic PM2.5 particles, which are less than 2.5 microns in diameter and can cause severe health issues, exceeded the World Health Organization's annual air quality guideline by 53.4 times in New Delhi.

As a response to the deteriorating air quality, schools in the capital were closed, though schools in the suburbs remained open, with children boarding school buses required to wear masks that had been stored away since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Poor air quality also resulted in respiratory problems, eye irritation, and restlessness in pets.

Veterinarian Prabhat Gangwar from the animal welfare NGO Friendicoes advised, "Breathing difficulties in pets can escalate into pneumonia and other ailments. If possible, it's advisable to refrain from taking pets out on morning walks until the air quality improves."