Air pollution in New Delhi, India, has reached hazardous levels, prompting authorities to close schools and suspend construction. Classes, except for grades 10 and 12, will shift online, and non-essential trucks and older diesel vehicles are banned from entering the city.
The toxic smog has reduced visibility, potentially disrupting flights, while air quality in parts of the city has exceeded WHO’s recommended limits by 50 times. Vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly, have been advised to stay indoors. The pollution, worsened by annual stubble burning, is expected to persist throughout the week. New Delhi remains one of the world’s most polluted cities.