As winter nears, a thick blanket of toxic smog has descended upon New Delhi and Lahore, driving air quality in some areas into the “severe” category. In New Delhi, the combination of vehicle emissions, construction dust, and smoke from farm fires in Punjab and Haryana is worsening air conditions. The Earth Sciences Ministry warned that this pollution is expected to remain in the “very poor” to “severe” range over the next six days, with respiratory illnesses likely to surge as the season changes.
On Tuesday, India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded a concerning air quality index (AQI) score of 384, falling under the “very poor” range, with many stations reporting levels above 400, indicating “severe” pollution. Ministry data reveals that farm fires alone contributed more than 23 percent to the city’s pollution levels on Monday, marking a significant increase from previous days.
Swiss organization IQAir ranked New Delhi as the world’s second most polluted city on Tuesday, with Lahore, Pakistan, taking the top spot. In response to escalating pollution levels, authorities in Pakistan’s Punjab province have implemented emergency measures and pointed to cross-border pollution from India as a contributing factor. Punjab’s government has committed to addressing the issue through diplomatic channels.
