New Delhi Sees Sixth Consecutive Day of Toxic Air, AQI Hits 'Severe Plus' Category: Schools, Construction Halt Amid Concerns For Health Impact, Global Cricket Matches, and Upcoming Diwali Celebrations

India Grapples with Public Health Emergency as Smog Forces School Closures and Disrupts Cricket Matches; Toxic Air Affecting Unborn Children and Equivalent to Daily Smoking of 25-30 Cigarettes, Warn Doctors, Amid a 30% Increase in Patients with Breathing Problems in Delhi

New Delhi experiences its sixth consecutive day of severe air pollution, with the AQI hitting the 'severe plus' category. Officials warn of increased health risks, including risk to unborn children similar to the effects of smoking 25-30 cigarettes a day.
Schools across the city have been closed, construction work has been halted, and certain vehicles have been banned in an attempt to curtail the pollution. This has caused disruption to both everyday life and major events, including international cricket matches.
Pollution levels are expected to remain high for the next 15-20 days due to slow wind speed. The worst air quality was recorded on November 3 and is the highest since the previous record high on November 12, 2021.
Factors contributing to the pollution include vehicle emissions, dust from construction sites, and smoke from the burning of crop stubble in neighboring states. Despite the city government implementing various policies to address these issues, the pollution levels have not significantly reduced.
Environmental activist and consultant on air pollution, Jai Dhar Gupta, stated that the air quality needs to be recognized as the public health emergency that it is. He believes that much of the city's efforts to address the issue are inadequate, as they do not directly combat the causes of the pollution.