India's air pollution: Dangerous New Delhi air quality

Air quality in New Delhi is at a severe level, as toxic smog engulfs the capital.

Delhi's Environment Minister Gopal Rai has requested that all schools remain shut until the end of the week, November 10th, leaving many closed for an entire week.

Driving restrictions have also been enforced from November 13th to 20th, whereby private vehicles with odd number plates will be allowed on roads on odd dates, while vehicles with even number plates will be allowed on the alternate even days.

This scheme has been implemented before for two weeks in 2019. Similar restrictions have also been tried around the world before in Beijing, Paris, Bogota, Santiago and Sao Paulo.

This comes on top of the government enforced fines of 20,000 rupees, or £197, for drivers who are caught using diesel or old petrol vehicles.

Pollution levels in New Delhi often worsen during November, owing to calm winds and low temperatures. This traps the pollutants emitted from various sources, including vehicles and dust. Stronger winds will often help clean the air.

The particularly bad air quality in India has also occurred every winter for the last five years.

The air quality index, otherwise known as AQI, measures up to a scale of 500. The higher the AQI value the worse the air quality, measured by PM2.5 - particle pollution from fine particulates.

Delhi reportedly reaches levels of 488 in recent days, placing it in the "severe" category. The latest measurements of pollutants are nearly 10 times the limit.

Other cities such as Kanpur, Lucknow, Agra and Mathura saw AQI levels rise to around 200, categorising as "poor". For comparison, in cities such as London, the AQI is at a comparative "fair" level inside the app.

You can check the current and forecasted AQI levels in your area using the Weather & Radar app, up to four days ahead.