Facing its worst spell of persistent smog in nearly two decades, the national capital’s air quality slipped to ‘hazardous’ levels on Saturday. Low wind speed and high moisture content exacerbated the problem. Photo: V. Sudershan
The smog has cricketers ‘stumped’ too. Here, members of the Bengal Ranji team are seen leaving the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium after their match was called off due to poor visibility. Photo : R. V. Moorthy
A bird flies over a blanket of smog engulfing Connaught Place, the heart of New Delhi. According to one advocacy group, government data shows that the smog that enveloped New Delhi this past week was the worst in the last 17 years. The concentration of PM2.5, tiny particulate pollution that can clog lungs, averaged close to 700 micrograms per cubic metre. That's 12 times the government norm and a whopping 70 times the WHO standards.
Not a happy welcome: A family from Assam poses for a photo at Raj Path on Saturday. Many in the city have complained of irritation in the eyes and breathing problems because of the smog.
The cause? Many of the problems that have turned Delhi's air so toxic continue unabated, like farmers in bordering regions continuing to burn crop waste.
The higher ground: Birds are seen perched high on a tree in one of New Delhi’s suburbs.
A cry of help: New Delhi’s citizens continue protest the pollution, hoping to get the message across to the government.