India: Severe air pollution continues in New Delhi June 15 /update 1

Event

Air quality in the National Capital Territory of Delhi continues to be categorized as "severe" as of Friday, June 15, for the fourth consecutive day, due to dust storms. According to reports, air pollution levels in New Delhi are six times higher than World Health Organization (WHO) safety recommendations. Construction work has been suspended since Thursday evening (local time) and is expected to remain suspended until Sunday, June 17.

Poor air quality, high temperatures, and hazy conditions are expected to persist in New Delhi and surrounding areas in the coming days.

Context

The WHO named Delhi as the world's most polluted city in 2018. The Indian capital faced its worst air pollution crisis 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.

India has faced criticism for high levels of air pollution in both urban centers and rural areas due to crop burning, vehicle and industrial emissions, dust from construction, and other open fires. While some cities, including New Delhi, have installed air quality monitoring systems in recent years, 47 percent of the total population live in unmonitored areas.

Advice

Individuals present in the Delhi region are advised to monitor the air quality situation, limit outdoor activity, and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities. Do not hesitate to seek medical attention if experiencing breathing difficulties.