Delhi topped IQAir's ranking of major cities on Saturday morning with a US AQI reading of 581, more than double Lahore's 285, as India's capital faced severe pollution forecasts a day before Diwali.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Delhi was the world's most polluted major city on Saturday morning, according to Swiss air quality monitoring group IQAir, as the Indian capital faced severe pollution forecasts a day before Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.
IQAir ranked Delhi first among the world's major cities at 10:35am, with a US air quality index reading of 581, double that of Lahore in neighbouring Pakistan, at 285. IQAir's reading, based on concentrations of air pollutants, is not directly comparable to India's official index, which uses a different scale and methodology. India's Central Pollution Control Board put Delhi's air quality index at 363 at 10am, in the "very poor" category.
India has ordered schools in and around Delhi to offer online classes, and encouraged people to work from home ahead of Diwali on Sunday, which is usually marked by the widespread use of firecrackers that further worsen the air quality. City authorities have responded with temporary construction, industrial and vehicle restrictions. The city of more than 20 million people is also implementing a long-term plan to promote use of electric vehicles.
Dr Arvind Kumar, a chest surgeon at Medanta hospital near Delhi and founder trustee of the Lung Care Foundation, recommended wearing a properly fitted N95 or N99 mask outdoors during periods of heavy pollution. He said pollution could cause persistent coughing, inflame the airways and trigger asthma-like attacks. He also cited increased risks of pneumonia, heart attacks and strokes, while linking prolonged exposure to impaired lung development in children and lung cancer. Kumar said people should avoid strenuous exercise outdoors during heavy pollution, including early mornings, when pollution levels can be high.
Across India, Pakistan and other parts of South Asia, traffic, factories, dust from construction and burning of crop residues and waste foul the air. Weak winds and stagnant winter air allow that pollution to build up. Friday's air quality in Delhi was the worst pre-Diwali air in eight years, local media said, citing official data. An estimated 1 billion people worldwide celebrate Diwali. When many households set off fireworks, their combined emissions can worsen air quality across neighbourhoods and entire cities, exposing people who are not taking part. Electric lights can be another way to celebrate Diwali, avoiding toxic gases and smoke from firecrackers.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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