World News
India’s capital chokes as air pollution levels hit 50 times the safe limit


Office goers walk wearing a face mask amidst a thick layer of smog as air pollution shoots up in New Delhi, India, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

By MANISH SWARUP and RISHI LEKHI
Updated 5:25 AM EST, November 18, 2024

NEW DELHI (AP) — Authorities in India’s capital shut schools, halted construction and banned non-essential trucks from entering the city on Monday after air pollution shot up to its worst level this season.

Residents of New Delhi woke up to thick, toxic smog enveloping the city of some 33 million as the air quality became increasingly hazardous. It rose further into the severe category, according to SAFAR, the country’s main environmental agency, which measures tiny particulate matter in the air that can enter deep into the lungs.

The deadly haze covered monuments and high-rise buildings in the capital, with visibility so low that airlines warned of delays.

In several areas of the city, pollution levels were more than 50 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limit. Forecasts say the poor air quality will continue into the week.


A foreign tourist family walks wearing face mask amidst a thick layer of smog as air pollution shoots up in New Delhi, India, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

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