New Delhi has become the world's most polluted city

The Indian capital is struggling with record levels of air pollution, which has forced the authorities to introduce drastic measures. PM2.5 levels have exceeded the limit set by the WHO by as much as 60 times.

New Delhi, which has been struggling with pollution for years, has this time reached an infamous record, becoming the most polluted city in the world. The smog is mainly caused by burning of crop residues in fields in surrounding states, industrial emissions, traffic and dust from construction sites.

New Delhi has introduced restrictions due to smog

Due to the disastrous state of the air, the city government has closed all schools, shifting classes to a remote mode. The decision is aimed at protecting children from direct exposure to smog, which can lead to serious health problems such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

A ban has also been introduced on working on construction sites, which are one of the main sources of particulate emissions in the capital. In addition, in order to reduce traffic, the entry of trucks into the city has been stopped, except for those carrying essential goods. Despite these measures, air quality remains at levels described as ‘hazardous’.

Experts warn that prolonged inhalation of air with this level of pollution can lead to numerous medical conditions, including asthma, lung cancer, and heart problems.

Source: apnews.com