Heavy smog covers the Indian capital
A thick cloud of smog shrouded India's capital New Delhi on Tuesday as air pollution worsens with the onset of winter, causing concentrations of fine particulate matter in the air to more than triple acceptable limits.
Residents of the world's most polluted capitals suffer from easy breathing every winter, as low temperatures and calm winds trap pollutants close to the ground.
The Indian government's Air Quality, Forecast and Research Network said in its daily bulletin: "As the minimum temperature drops, the presence of haze is likely to gradually increase in the early hours of the morning, leading to a deterioration in the air quality index."
The air quality index in some parts of the city rose above 400 on Tuesday, which is classified as "severe" in air pollution, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.
The council's data showed that the level of fine particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrograms or 2.5 suspended particulate matter was 180 micrograms per cubic meter of air at 10 am in the Delhi metropolitan area, which is three times higher than the acceptable limit per 24 hours at 60 micrograms per cubic meter of air. .
The authorities have taken several measures over the years to improve air quality in the city, including switching Delhi's public transport fleet to cleaner fuels, spraying water from towers and on roads, and controlling the burning of wood and waste during cold weather.
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