In brief
Toxic air pollution prompts urgent measures across northern India and Pakistan, impacting millions.
As toxic smog blankets New Delhi and northern Pakistan, schools have been shuttered and residents are urged to remain indoors. The situation has escalated into a medical emergency, with New Delhi recording some of the world's worst air quality, as assessed by IQAir, which reported air quality scores soaring above 1,600—dangerously higher than the hazardous threshold of 301. The chief minister of Delhi, Atishi Marlena, stated that the entire region is facing a medical crisis with severe pollution affecting numerous cities. This crisis comes at a time when Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, has also been suffocated by hazardous air quality levels due to a combination of agricultural practices and seasonal conditions.In response to the deteriorating air quality, Punjab has initiated extensive public health measures, such as canceling outdoor activities, closing schools, and advising residents to stay home. Similar protocols have been implemented in New Delhi, where indoor learning has been adopted in primary schools, and select construction projects are being paused to minimize dust and pollutants.Notably, the seasonal practice of burning rice straw by farmers—common in both India and Pakistan—has been heavily blamed for this year's alarming pollution levels. Investigations suggest that not only local practices contribute to the crisis, but cross-border pollution may also play a role. Environmental experts indicate that frigid temperatures are further contributing to the stagnation of pollutants in the air, complicating an already dire situation.With air quality continuously declining, authorities have intensified their measures, confirming that the situation will be monitored closely to protect the health of millions grappling with this twin crisis of air pollution and public health.
