New Delhi, India – In an unprecedented move, authorities in India’s capital, Delhi, have announced the closure of all schools due to dangerously high levels of smog, which residents have described as a “death trap.” The city’s air quality has reached hazardous levels, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossing 500, the highest on the scale, leading to widespread health concerns.
The thick smog, primarily caused by crop burning in neighboring states and vehicle emissions, has enveloped the city, drastically reducing visibility and making outdoor activities life-threatening. Health experts have warned of severe respiratory issues, particularly among children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions.
Schools across Delhi have been instructed to remain closed for an indefinite period, as the city’s government urges residents to stay indoors. The capital’s hospitals are bracing for a surge in patients with respiratory complications. The city’s pollution control board has also initiated emergency measures, including halting construction work and increasing the deployment of air purifiers in public spaces.
Environmental groups have called for urgent action from the government to tackle the root causes of the pollution, which have been exacerbated by the burning of agricultural waste and the growing number of vehicles. As the air quality worsens, citizens continue to voice frustration over the lack of long-term solutions to the city’s ongoing pollution crisis.
The government has promised to intensify efforts to clean up the air but faces mounting pressure to take more immediate, significant actions. With Delhi’s smog described as a ‘public health emergency,’ many fear that without stricter enforcement of air quality measures, the city’s residents will continue to suffer.
