New Delhi is suffocating under a cloud of pollution... and the authorities are warning
The Indian capital, New Delhi, shrouded in a thick cloud of smog on Thursday at the height of the Hindu festival of Diwali, when millions of families and friends gather.
New Delhi is one of the world's most polluted cities, due to its emissions of toxic gases from industry, traffic and the burning of agricultural areas whose smoke fills the air every winter.
The city's 20 million residents woke up to a gray and yellow cloud that is expected to intensify in the coming days, according to experts.
The rate of fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers, which is the thinnest and most polluting air, reached a maximum level of 389 on Thursday, according to the air quality measuring stations of the state agency "Saffar".
This level is fifteen times higher than the limits recommended by the World Health Organization.
The government agency "Savar" recommended that residents avoid outdoor activities and wear masks.
The agency also warned that illegal firecrackers during Diwali (Hindu's festival of lights) celebrations could raise the pollution level on Friday.
This phenomenon is exacerbated by the burning of forest areas from farmers in neighboring states in order to clear the land before plowing the land.
This practice continues despite being banned since 2015, and it causes extreme levels of pollution during the winter season.
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