Toxic smog has triggered emergency measures in northern India and Pakistan, with school closures and restrictions on outdoor activities as air quality hits record hazardous levels.
Yan Zhuang reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Authorities in the Indian city of New Delhi and the province of Punjab, in Pakistan, declared health emergencies, closing schools and limiting outdoor events.
- Air quality indexes in both regions exceeded 1,000, far above hazardous levels of 301, due to crop burning and seasonal weather patterns.
- Residents of the city and its metropolitan area – about 55 million people – face severe respiratory and eye health impacts, with medical facilities reporting a surge in patients.
Key quote:
“All of North India has been plunged into a medical emergency.”
— Atishi Marlena, Delhi chief minister.
Why this matters:
The worsening smog crisis underscores the dangers of crop-burning practices and inadequate air quality controls, impacting millions of people’s health. Immediate actions and long-term policy shifts are essential to mitigate these recurring environmental disasters.
