Delhi chokes on ‘very poor’ air after cleanest October in years
The Indian capital's winter pollution worsened a week ahead of the Diwali festival, when firecrackers typically intensify the haze.
On Wednesday, Delhi was enveloped in a thick smog as the city's winter pollution worsened a week before Diwali. The air quality index peaked at 379, nearing the "very poor" threshold defined by India's Central Pollution Control Board. Fine particulate matter, which can enter lungs and bloodstream, averaged 277, surpassing the World Health Organization's 24-hour limit by more than 18 times.
This marks a stark contrast to last month's AQI of 166, the cleanest October in eight years. The pollution spike is attributed to unusually heavy rain washing away pollutants and favorable airflow dispersing emissions.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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