Authorities in New Delhi implemented emergency measures Monday after air pollution levels soared to their worst this season.
Schools were closed, construction was halted, and nonessential trucks were banned as the city of 33 million residents woke to a thick blanket of toxic smog.
The air quality index reached hazardous levels, with pollution in some areas exceeding 50 times the World Health Organization‘s safe limits, according to SAFAR, India’s main environmental monitoring agency.
The deadly haze shrouded monuments and high-rise buildings, reducing visibility and causing airline delays. Forecasts predict the poor air quality will persist throughout the week.
Pollution Sources Compound Crisis
Every winter, air pollution in northern India intensifies, driven by seasonal crop residue burning in agricultural states. Farmers in neighboring Uttar Pradesh burned fields over the weekend, releasing plumes of smoke carried into the city by winds.
The colder weather trapped the smoke, compounding pollution from vehicle emissions, industrial activity, and coal-fired power plants.
“Everyone has a sore throat,” said Sanjay Goel, a shopkeeper. “They should ban crop residue burning.”
This year, pollution levels have steadily risen, prompting officials to enforce stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The strictest measures, GRAP 4, include school closures, bans on older diesel vehicles, and the suspension of all construction activities.
Health Warnings and Outrage
Authorities urged children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic conditions to stay indoors. Despite the hazardous conditions, many New Delhi residents carried on with daily routines. Morning walkers filled Lodhi Garden, a popular city park, even as visibility remained low.
Social media erupted with complaints from residents suffering from sore throats, coughs, and headaches.
Many described the capital as a “gas chamber” and criticized the government’s lack of effective, long-term solutions. “It’s apocalyptic,” one resident posted, while others called for immediate action to address the public health crisis.
India’s chronic air pollution problem contributes to more than a million deaths annually, according to multiple studies. Critics argue that while authorities often rely on water sprinklers and antismog guns during emergencies, these measures fail to tackle the root causes of pollution.
Call for Sustainable Solutions
Though measures such as GRAP have been enforced in past years, experts emphasize the need for structural changes to curb pollution. Without significant efforts to reduce industrial emissions, vehicle pollution, and crop burning, residents fear the annual smog crisis will only worsen.
The ongoing crisis underscores the urgent need for coordinated action between states and long-term strategies to address the region’s environmental and health challenges.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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