Pollution in Delhi has reached its worst level this year in the past two days, prompting authorities to rate conditions as “severe to emergency”, which indicates the potential for a public health crisis.
Senior government officials said the main reasons for the increase in smog were unusually cold air, fog and a lack of wind.
Such conditions trap vehicle fumes and pollution from coal-fired power plants, industry and domestic fires over the city.
Data from the government’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed the air quality index, which measures the concentration of poisonous particulate matter, was an average of 449 on Monday, only slightly better than 450 on Sunday.
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