Delhi Takes Back Unwanted Crown Of India's Most Polluted City From Punjab's Lahore

Delhi: The national capital has once again claimed the unwanted title of the world’s most polluted city, surpassing Lahore on Wednesday, according to Swiss air quality monitoring group IQAir. The national capital’s air quality index (AQI) hit a worrying score of 418, pushing it into the 'severe' category for the first time this season. The severe air pollution has led to a sharp drop in visibility, causing travel disruptions and affecting the health of residents.

Smog and Flight Disruptions as Pollution SoarsAs pollution levels surged, visibility in parts of Delhi plummeted, affecting daily life and air travel. The dense smog, a mix of fog and smoke, reduced visibility to nearly zero in some areas, forcing the diversion of at least eight flights from Indira Gandhi International Airport, as reported by ANI. This drop in visibility is being blamed on a combination of low wind speeds, high humidity, and falling temperatures, with the mercury dipping to 17 degrees Celsius from 17.9 degrees Celsius the day before. Health Hazards as AQI Reaches Dangerous LevelsAccording to the Central Pollution Control Board, an AQI reading above 401 is classified as 'severe', which can seriously impact those with pre-existing health conditions and even affect healthy individuals. The PM2.5 concentration in Delhi was reported to be over 120 times higher than the World Health Organisation's (WHO) recommended levels on Wednesday morning, posing significant health risks to the city’s residents. Delhi struggles with thick smog every winter as cold air traps pollutants from dust, vehicle emissions, and farm fires. The pollution not only affects visibility but also poses a serious threat to public health, especially for vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues. Neighbouring Regions Also AffectedThe air quality crisis isn’t limited to Delhi alone. Across the border in Pakistan’s Punjab province, authorities have taken drastic measures to combat toxic air by closing schools, banning outdoor activities, and ordering shops and markets to shut early. Meanwhile, India’s Meteorological Department has forecasted dense fog to continue across northwest India over the next 2-3 days, further complicating the situation.