Toxic Smog Engulfs Pakistan and India, Visible from Space

A severe air quality crisis in Pakistan's Punjab and northern India has led to widespread health issues and forced closures of schools and public spaces.

NASA satellite imagery shows a thick layer of smog covering eastern Pakistan and northern India, affecting major cities like Lahore and Delhi.
Lahore's air quality index (AQI) has reached record highs, with some areas exceeding 1,900, far above the hazardous level of 300.
Over 1.8 million people in Pakistan's Punjab province have sought medical treatment for respiratory and eye-related illnesses in the past month.
Authorities in Pakistan have closed schools and public spaces until November 17 to protect children and reduce exposure to the toxic air.
The United Nations warns that more than 11 million children in Punjab are at severe risk due to the persistent smog, which experts say has become a 'fifth season.'