NEW DELHI — India imposed stricter measures on Monday to combat the deteriorating air quality in New Delhi and surrounding areas, including vehicle bans and work-from-home directives.
The new rules prohibit diesel trucks from entering Delhi and recommend remote working for non-essential sectors, as the city grapples with a smog crisis.
Despite the worsening air quality, high school students were still required to attend in-person classes. Parents were seen dropping their children off at Kerala School in New Delhi, while some students walked to school through thick morning smog without wearing masks. The shift to online learning mandated by authorities applies only to primary and secondary schools.
The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 484 on Monday, categorized as “severe plus” and the worst reading of the year, according to India’s pollution control authority. Visibility in the capital dropped to 100 meters (about 110 yards), but officials said flights and trains were operating with minor delays.
According to live rankings from Swiss air quality monitoring group IQAir, New Delhi was the most polluted city in the world on Monday. The air quality was rated “hazardous,” with PM2.5 levels—fine particulate matter that can penetrate the lungs and lead to serious health issues—measuring 130.9 times higher than World Health Organization guidelines.
The crisis underscores the persistent challenge of air pollution in India’s capital, where seasonal factors like crop stubble burning and winter weather exacerbate emissions from vehicles, industry, and construction.
