Delhi shuts schools, bans construction as toxic smog chokes capital

Schools across Delhi and its surrounding areas have shifted to online classes and authorities have banned construction activities as India’s capital battles hazardous air pollution levels that have plunged the city into a public health emergency.

On Monday morning, a thick toxic haze blanketed Delhi, sharply reducing visibility and disrupting daily life. Several flights and train services were delayed as smog engulfed the region, adding to commuters’ woes and raising fresh concerns about safety.

According to official data, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) soared to levels more than 30 times higher than the limit recommended by the World Health Organization. The AQI measures concentrations of PM2.5 — fine particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the lungs — as well as other harmful pollutants.

Health experts warn that prolonged exposure to such severe pollution can lead to serious respiratory and cardiovascular problems, with children, the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions most at risk.

In response, authorities ordered schools to suspend physical classes and move lessons online to reduce children’s exposure to the polluted air. Construction activities, a major source of dust and emissions, were also halted as part of emergency measures aimed at curbing pollution levels.

Toxic air has become a recurring feature of life in Delhi and its suburbs, particularly during the winter months. Each year, falling temperatures, low wind speeds and temperature inversion trap pollutants close to the ground, causing smog to linger over the city for days or even weeks.

Experts attribute the crisis to a combination of factors, including industrial emissions, heavy vehicle exhaust, construction dust and the seasonal burning of crop stubble in neighbouring states. The practice, carried out by farmers to clear fields ahead of the next planting season, releases massive plumes of smoke that drift into the capital.

Despite repeated warnings from scientists and health professionals, long-term solutions have remained elusive. Environmental groups have renewed calls for stricter enforcement of emission standards, cleaner transport systems and sustainable agricultural practices to prevent the annual air quality crisis.

As Delhi’s residents brace for more days of hazardous air, the latest emergency measures underscore the growing urgency of addressing pollution in one of the world’s most polluted megacities.