Delhi Continues To Grapple With 'Severe' Pollution

The air quality in Delhi remains in the 'severe' category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 450 in some areas, as reported by NDTV.

Locations like RK Puram, Punjabi Bagh, ITO and Anand Vihar are among the worst affected, leading to rising concerns about respiratory and eye ailments, particularly among children and the elderly.

In response to the escalating air pollution crisis, the Delhi government has rescheduled the winter break for all schools, moving it up to 9-18 November due to the deteriorating air quality.

Meanwhile, the fate of Delhi's odd-even car rationing scheme is uncertain pending a Supreme Court assessment of its effectiveness.

The Supreme Court has expressed doubts about the scheme's impact, considering it "mere optics" without substantive results.

Delhi-NCR's air quality has worsened in recent days due to factors such as declining temperatures, stagnant winds hindering pollution dispersion, and increased post-harvest paddy stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana.

Notably, a University of Chicago report highlights that Delhi's air pollution reduces life expectancy by nearly 12 years, underscoring the urgency of addressing the issue.

Currently, Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan has been implemented in the national capital after the city's air quality plummeted to the 'severe plus' category.