Even for a city considered one of the world’s most polluted, the Indian capital hit a new low this week.
Air so dirty you can taste and smell it; a grey haze that makes a gentle stroll a serious health hazard.
According to one advocacy group, government data shows that the smog that enveloped the city midweek was the worst in the last 17 years. The concentration of PM2.5, tiny particulate pollution that can clog lungs, averaged close to 700 micrograms per cubic metre. That’s 12 times the government norm and a whopping 70 times the WHO standards.
The Delhi winter, once a glorious time of clear, crisp days that meant holidays and weekends spent picnicking in its many public parks, is now a time of annual health woes.
As millions struggle with hacking coughs and burning eyes, many schools across the city have either shut down or ended all outdoor activities. Doctors have asked people to stay indoors during the worst days.