Air pollution pushes Indians to wear masks at home

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that New Delhi and its neighboring regions are in an emergency situation, amid bad air pollution, which prompted residents to wear masks inside their homes, according to the Press Trust of India news agency.

The court asked the central government and the administration of Delhi to take urgent measures, to improve the air quality, and suggested steps, such as stopping vehicles or imposing a lockdown in the Indian capital, the report said, citing statements by the High Court panel, led by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana. According to Bloomberg News, on Saturday.

The Air Quality Index "AQI" for New Delhi reached 580 at 1:30 p.m. local time, according to the "AQ Air" website, which monitors air pollution around the world.

Readings below 50 are considered safe, while anything above 300 is considered dangerous.

While the Indian capital suffers from severe air pollution annually, in the winter, as farmers burn crop straw, the excessive reliance on fossil fuels, which make up three-quarters of India's energy needs, exacerbates the problem.

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