NEW DELHI — Drone footage captured on Wednesday revealed dense, toxic smog lingering over Delhi, with traffic moving through severely hazy conditions as the city continues to battle hazardous air pollution.
In response to the crisis, the Delhi government ordered 50% of its workforce to work from home, local media reported.
The move comes as air quality in the Indian capital remains dire despite slight improvements in visibility since the beginning of the week.
Delhi’s 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI) stood above 420 on a scale of 500 on Wednesday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. Earlier in the week, AQI levels peaked at 491 on Monday, prompting authorities to impose restrictions on vehicle movement and construction activities, as well as shift schools to online classes.
The Swiss-based air quality monitoring group IQAir ranked Delhi as the world’s most polluted city on Wednesday, with an AQI reading of 489 at 5:05 GMT.
