India: Air quality worsens Nov. 21 after brief improvement /update 4

Event

Despite an improvement in recent days, New Delhi’s air pollution has worsened again, slipping from “poor” to “very poor” on Tuesday, November 21. The Air Quality Index was 323 on Tuesday, compared to 292 on Sunday.

The Indian Medical Association, which has declared a state of medical emergency, is advising residents to remain indoors as much as possible, especially the elderly, pregnant women, children, and individuals with asthma or cardiac issues. He also reiterated that all sporting activities should be canceled.

Context

The Air Quality Index (AQI) reached its worst level in New Delhi - 448 on a scale of 500 - on November 8, posing a severe risk to public health.

New Delhi faced its worst period of air pollution in decades in 2016, when approximately 1 million children were required to stay home from school and thousands of people were hospitalized for respiratory illnesses. Authorities claim the current spike in pollution is due in part to farmers in neighboring states burning crops ahead of the upcoming growing season.

Advice

Individuals present in New Delhi are advised to monitor the situation in the coming days, limit outdoor activity, and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities. If experiencing breathing difficulties, do not hesitate to seek medical attention.