[1/6]A dog crosses the road on a foggy morning in New Delhi, India, November 13, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis Obtaining licensing rights
NEW DELHI, Nov 13 (Reuters) – Two Indian cities joined New Delhi as among the world’s 10 worst-polluted cities on Monday morning, with smoke billowing into the air after a day of firecrackers being set off to celebrate the annual Hindu holiday of Diwali. a light.
The capital, New Delhi, as it often does, took first place. The air quality index (AQI) reached 420, putting it in the “hazardous” category, according to the Swiss group IQAir.
But it was also joined in the top 10 by Kolkata in eastern India, which came in fourth place with 196 indicators of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, while the financial capital Mumbai came in eighth place with 163 indicators of Al-Qaeda.
An AQI level of 400 to 500 affects healthy people and is dangerous for people with existing diseases, while a level of 150 to 200 causes discomfort for people with asthma, lung, and heart problems. Levels from 0 to 50 are considered good.
A thick layer of smog began spreading in New Delhi from Sunday night, sending the Al-Qaeda in Iraq rate rising to an alarming level of 680 shortly after midnight.
Every year, the authorities impose a ban on fireworks in the capital, but this ban is rarely enforced.
Air quality in India deteriorates every year before winter, when cold air traps pollutants from vehicles, industry, construction dust and burning agricultural waste.
New Delhi authorities postponed an earlier decision to restrict vehicle use after brief rains on Friday brought some relief from exposure to toxic air for a week.
The local government plans to review the decision after Diwali.
Reported by Tanvi Mehta. Edited by Edwina Gibbs
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