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Presence drops in parts of Delhi as contamination rises

The harmful smog that has enveloped India's capital intensified on Wednesday morning as temperatures dropped and the seasonal winter season haze set in, minimizing exposure in some areas and perhaps impacting flights.

Delhi overtook Pakistan's Lahore as the world's most polluted city in Swiss group IQAir's live rankings, with an air quality index (AQI) score of more than 1,000. The group categorizes readings above 301 as dangerous.

The Indian capital battles serious pollution every winter season as cold, heavy air traps dust and emissions, along with smoke from illegal farm fires in the adjacent states of Punjab and Haryana.

IQAir said the concentration of PM2.5 - particulate matter measuring 2.5 microns or less in diameter that can be carried into lungs, causing lethal illness and cardiac issues - was more than 120 times the World Health Organisation's. recommended levels on Wednesday early morning.

India's contamination authority, nevertheless, stated the AQI was. around 350, listed below its threshold of 400 for extreme contamination.

The variation shows different scales to transform pollutant. concentrations into AQI, said climate expert Gufran Beig, Chair. Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies and. founder of SAFAR, the federal government's air quality. keeping track of firm.

The India Meteorological Department included that pollution and. fog had decreased exposure to 100 metres (328 feet) in some. locations by around 8 a.m. (0230 GMT).

Low visibility procedures were initiated at the city's. Indira Gandhi International Airport, operator Delhi. International Airport Limited said in a post on social networks. platform X, including that some flights might be affected.

The meteorological firm stated the city's average. temperature dropped to 17 degrees Celsius (63 degrees. Fahrenheit) on Wednesday early morning from 17.9 C the day before, and. may fall once again as sunlight remains cut off by the smog.

The city's environment minister stated recently that the. government was eager to utilize synthetic rain to cut the smog. Authorities have on event closed schools, placed constraints. on personal cars, and stopped some structure work to curb the. issue.

Pakistan's Punjab province, which shares a border with. India, has actually also banned outside activities, closed schools and. bought some stores, markets and shopping malls to close early.

(source: Reuters)