Authorities declare a public health crisis as hazardous air quality levels spike, leading to widespread restrictions.
Toxic Smog Triggers Emergency Measures Across Northern India and Pakistan
Toxic Smog Triggers Emergency Measures Across Northern India and Pakistan
Severe air pollution forces school closures and health emergencies in densely populated regions.
Heavy smog has enveloped New Delhi, India’s capital, prompting authorities to shut down schools and urge residents to remain indoors. This toxic haze, which has affected neighboring Pakistan for weeks, has escalated into what officials are calling a medical emergency. According to IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitoring company, the pollution levels in New Delhi exceeded 1,600 on its air quality index, making it the worst in the world. Any reading above 301 is considered hazardous and poses serious health risks including severe respiratory issues.
Atishi Marlena, the chief minister of Delhi, declared that all of North India is experiencing a medical emergency, with numerous cities suffering from alarming levels of pollution. The situation has become dire for Punjab, Pakistan's largest province, leading officials to impose similar restrictions including the closure of schools, cancellation of public events, and a directive for many workers to stay home.
Each year, the northern regions of India and Pakistan grapple with dramatic air quality drops in autumn due to agricultural practices, particularly the burning of rice stubble. However, this year's pollution levels have reached unprecedented heights. Punjab has experienced air quality readings exceeding 1,000 on the IQAir index, a startling first for the area. The region has acted decisively, implementing health emergencies and warning of a significant increase in lung and respiratory ailments among residents.
As the situation deteriorated further, Delhi adopted more stringent measures, including transitioning some primary and secondary education to online formats and restricting diesel truck access to the city. While the extent and duration of these emergency measures remain unclear, both Indian and Pakistani officials acknowledge that the practice of crop burning plays a significant role in this environmental crisis, compounded by lower temperatures that trap pollutants closer to the ground.
Atishi Marlena, the chief minister of Delhi, declared that all of North India is experiencing a medical emergency, with numerous cities suffering from alarming levels of pollution. The situation has become dire for Punjab, Pakistan's largest province, leading officials to impose similar restrictions including the closure of schools, cancellation of public events, and a directive for many workers to stay home.
Each year, the northern regions of India and Pakistan grapple with dramatic air quality drops in autumn due to agricultural practices, particularly the burning of rice stubble. However, this year's pollution levels have reached unprecedented heights. Punjab has experienced air quality readings exceeding 1,000 on the IQAir index, a startling first for the area. The region has acted decisively, implementing health emergencies and warning of a significant increase in lung and respiratory ailments among residents.
As the situation deteriorated further, Delhi adopted more stringent measures, including transitioning some primary and secondary education to online formats and restricting diesel truck access to the city. While the extent and duration of these emergency measures remain unclear, both Indian and Pakistani officials acknowledge that the practice of crop burning plays a significant role in this environmental crisis, compounded by lower temperatures that trap pollutants closer to the ground.
