Pollution in India’s capital, Delhi, has reached alarming levels, with air quality readings at their highest for the year, putting the health and well-being of its 30 million residents in jeopardy.
The city is engulfed in thick brown smog, forcing schools and offices to shut down, as pollution levels soar more than 30 times above what is deemed healthy.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) has reached a severe 484, a level so hazardous it is classified as “severe plus.”
The annual pollution crisis stems from a combination of vehicle emissions, industrial pollutants, stubble burning, and other environmental factors.
As winter approaches, the cooler weather traps these toxic pollutants, causing a build-up in the air.
Stubble fires, a practice commonly used by farmers to clear fields after rice harvesting, contribute significantly to the city’s pollution levels.
Despite being illegal, these fires are responsible for up to 40% of the pollution currently smothering the city.
Delhi’s pollution problem is not only a health risk but also an issue of inequality.
Families suffer daily due to Delhi’s toxic air pollution and lack of solutions.Many low-income families, like Shagun Devi’s, are forced to endure toxic air without access to protective measures such as air purifiers.
Devi, a domestic worker, struggles daily with the effects of the smog, experiencing difficulty breathing and eye irritation.
For those in similar circumstances, the pollution is not just a seasonal nuisance but a constant threat to their health and life expectancy.
The city’s air pollution crisis has also raised concerns internationally, with experts urging immediate action.
At COP29 in Baku, climate experts emphasized that the global community must respond urgently to the environmental and health risks posed by air pollution.
The situation has prompted legal action, with India’s Supreme Court ruling that clean air is a fundamental human right and ordering the government to take stronger measures.
However, despite various emergency measures and government efforts, the crisis continues to worsen.
Those who can afford it are fleeing the city in search of cleaner air, leaving those without the means to cope with the toxic air.
The question remains: how long can Delhi’s residents endure this annual environmental disaster?