New Delhi banned half the Indian capital's private cars from its roads on Monday as the megacity's 20 million people spluttered with stinging eyes in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/diplomatic-corps-expresses-concern-over-delhi-pollution-says-we-suffer-like-rest-of-delhi-259764">worst pollution in three years</a>.

As smog levels exceeded those of Beijing by more than three times, authorities also parked a van with an air purifier near the Taj Mahal,&nbsp;the iconic 17th-century marble mausoleum 250 kilometers (150 miles) south of Delhi,&nbsp;in a bid to clean the air in its surrounds.

With the pollution causing a rush of respiratory complaints at hospitals and the diversion of 37 flights on Sunday, a new law came into effect restricting cars from the capital's roads to alternative days, depending on if their number plate ends in an odd or even number.&nbsp;

More than 600 police teams were deployed at road intersections in the capital with the power to hand out fines of 4,000 rupees (nearly $60) to transgressors

Exempt from the restrictions were Delhi's seven million motorbikes and scooters, public transport and cars carrying only women, stoking criticism that the measures were ineffective.

"There is smoke everywhere and people, including youngsters, kids, elderly are finding it difficult to breathe," Delhi's chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a Twitter video. "Eyes are burning. Pollution is that bad."

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/an-apocalypse-in-new-delhi-air-quality-index-in-hazardous-category-259741/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Construction was banned temporarily late last week in the world's most polluted capital city, while schools have been closed until Wednesday, with the city government handing out free pollution masks to children.

"I have a headache every day I wake up. It's suffocating to breathe sometimes. And inflammation in the nostrils and all. And eyes also. Like it kind of burns," Ankusha Kushi, a student, told AFP.

As Delhiites woke up on Monday, levels of particulates measuring less than 2.5 microns -- so tiny they enter deep into the respiratory tract,&nbsp;were at 613 micrograms per cubic metre of air, according to the US embassy in Delhi.

Deadly over long term

The World Health Organisation's recommended safe daily maximum is a reading of 25.

In central Delhi, the state air quality institute rated levels of the tiny particulates,&nbsp;which can be deadly over the long term,&nbsp;as "severe".

Bollywood megastar Priyanka Chopra Jonas posted a selfie in pollution mask on Instagram and said it was "hard to shoot" in Delhi.

"I can’t even imagine what it must be like to live here under these conditions. We r blessed with air purifiers and masks. Pray for the homeless," she posted.

Fourteen Indian cities including the capital are among the world's top 15 most polluted cities, according to the World Health Organization.&nbsp;

One study last year said that a million Indians died prematurely every year as a result.

With local elections due in Delhi in early 2020, the crisis has also become a casualty of political bickering, with each side blaming the other.&nbsp;

Kejriwal, who likened Delhi to a "gas chamber" on Friday, said the city had done its part to curb pollution and that the burning of wheat stubble residue on farms outside the capital had to be stopped.

India's supreme court too stepped-in, slamming the authorities for failing to curb pollution and asked them to tighten rules against violators.&nbsp;

Car rule 'a stunt'&nbsp;

But national environment minister Prakash Javadekar accused Kejriwal of politicising the issue, while an MP from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) violated the odd-even car rule as a "symbolic protest" by driving a car that was barred under the scheme.

Experts warned that both state and national governments needed to go beyond short-term remedies.

Stop-gap solutions "can't be a substitute for addressing the major long-term chronic sources of air pollution", Daniel Cass, from global non-profit Vital Strategies, told AFP.

Changing agricultural practices, switching electricity generation sources and accelerating the conversion of home heating from charcoal to natural gas were also key measures in the pollution fight, Cass said.

Siddharth Singh, a climate policy expert, said the traffic restrictions are "ineffective".

"If air pollution was solely due to the vehicular traffic, then this would be a solution. Right now it cannot be a solution because motorised private transport has a very small share in the whole pie," Singh told AFP.

New Delhi banned half the Indian capital's private cars from its roads on Monday as the megacity's 20 million people spluttered with stinging eyes in the worst pollution in three years.

New Delhi banned half the Indian capital's private cars from its roads on Monday as the megacity's 20 million people spluttered with stinging eyes in the worst pollution in three years. As smog levels exceeded those of Beijing by more than three times, authorities also parked a van with an air purifier near the Taj Mahal, the iconic 17th-century marble mausoleum 250 kilometers (150 miles) south of Delhi, in a bid to clean the air in its surrounds. With the pollution causing a rush of respiratory complaints at hospitals and the diversion of 37 flights on Sunday, a new law came into effect restricting cars from the capital's roads to alternative days, depending on if their number plate ends in an odd or even number. More than 600 police teams were deployed at road intersections in the capital with the power to hand out fines of 4,000 rupees (nearly $60) to transgressors Exempt from the restrictions were Delhi's seven million motorbikes and scooters, public transport and cars carrying only women, stoking criticism that the measures were ineffective. "There is smoke everywhere and people, including youngsters, kids, elderly are finding it difficult to breathe," Delhi's chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a Twitter video. "Eyes are burning. Pollution is that bad." Watch Video: Construction was banned temporarily late last week in the world's most polluted capital city, while schools have been closed until Wednesday, with the city government handing out free pollution masks to children. "I have a headache every day I wake up. It's suffocating to breathe sometimes. And inflammation in the nostrils and all. And eyes also. Like it kind of burns," Ankusha Kushi, a student, told AFP. As Delhiites woke up on Monday, levels of particulates measuring less than 2.5 microns -- so tiny they enter deep into the respiratory tract, were at 613 micrograms per cubic metre of air, according to the US embassy in Delhi. Deadly over long term The World Health Organisation's recommended safe daily maximum is a reading of 25. In central Delhi, the state air quality institute rated levels of the tiny particulates, which can be deadly over the long term, as "severe". Bollywood megastar Priyanka Chopra Jonas posted a selfie in pollution mask on Instagram and said it was "hard to shoot" in Delhi. "I can’t even imagine what it must be like to live here under these conditions. We r blessed with air purifiers and masks. Pray for the homeless," she posted. Fourteen Indian cities including the capital are among the world's top 15 most polluted cities, according to the World Health Organization. One study last year said that a million Indians died prematurely every year as a result. With local elections due in Delhi in early 2020, the crisis has also become a casualty of political bickering, with each side blaming the other. Kejriwal, who likened Delhi to a "gas chamber" on Friday, said the city had done its part to curb pollution and that the burning of wheat stubble residue on farms outside the capital had to be stopped. India's supreme court too stepped-in, slamming the authorities for failing to curb pollution and asked them to tighten rules against violators. Car rule 'a stunt' But national environment minister Prakash Javadekar accused Kejriwal of politicising the issue, while an MP from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) violated the odd-even car rule as a "symbolic protest" by driving a car that was barred under the scheme. Experts warned that both state and national governments needed to go beyond short-term remedies. Stop-gap solutions "can't be a substitute for addressing the major long-term chronic sources of air pollution", Daniel Cass, from global non-profit Vital Strategies, told AFP. Changing agricultural practices, switching electricity generation sources and accelerating the conversion of home heating from charcoal to natural gas were also key measures in the pollution fight, Cass said. Siddharth Singh, a climate policy expert, said the traffic restrictions are "ineffective". "If air pollution was solely due to the vehicular traffic, then this would be a solution. Right now it cannot be a solution because motorised private transport has a very small share in the whole pie," Singh told AFP.

Taj Mahal gets air purifier as Delhi breathes toxic air

India's Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority on Friday declared a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/feeling-breathless-delhi-ncr-residents-complain-as-air-quality-turns-hazardous-259171">public health emergency</a> in the national capital as air quality continued to dip in the 'Hazardous' category.

"This is a public health emergency as air pollution is now hazardous and will have adverse health impacts on all particularly the children," Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority said in a statement.

In measures to control the air pollution, construction activities have been prohibited in Delhi NCR till the morning of November 5. Cracker burning is also completely banned for the entire winter period.

For the last five years, Delhi has been witnessing a public health emergency in the form of air pollution. This year as well Delhi and its adjoining areas witnessed a severe dip in the air quality causing smog across the region.

The cause of the pollution spike is believed to be the bursting of crackers on Diwali and stubble burning in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana.&nbsp;

On Friday, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the overall AQI dipped to 425 which falls into "severe" category.

The calm surface wind condition that prevails last two days over Delhi has led to strong surface nocturnal inversion and accumulation of pollutants.

Also, the effective stubble fire counts of Haryana and Punjab&nbsp;has increased from the previous day count of 1057 to 2396, as evident from SAFAR-multi-satellite fire product.

The stubble fire percentage contribution of Delhi's air quality which has touched the season's highest share of 35 per cent on October 30 is predicted to be 27 per cent for today and 25 per cent on November 1.

An improvement to the lower end of the 'Very poor'&nbsp;category is expected by November 2.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

India's Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority on Friday declared a public health emergency in the national capital as air quality continued to dip in the 'Hazardous' category.

India's Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority on Friday declared a public health emergency in the national capital as air quality continued to dip in the 'Hazardous' category. "This is a public health emergency as air pollution is now hazardous and will have adverse health impacts on all particularly the children," Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority said in a statement. In measures to control the air pollution, construction activities have been prohibited in Delhi NCR till the morning of November 5. Cracker burning is also completely banned for the entire winter period. For the last five years, Delhi has been witnessing a public health emergency in the form of air pollution. This year as well Delhi and its adjoining areas witnessed a severe dip in the air quality causing smog across the region. The cause of the pollution spike is believed to be the bursting of crackers on Diwali and stubble burning in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana. On Friday, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the overall AQI dipped to 425 which falls into "severe" category. The calm surface wind condition that prevails last two days over Delhi has led to strong surface nocturnal inversion and accumulation of pollutants. Also, the effective stubble fire counts of Haryana and Punjab has increased from the previous day count of 1057 to 2396, as evident from SAFAR-multi-satellite fire product. The stubble fire percentage contribution of Delhi's air quality which has touched the season's highest share of 35 per cent on October 30 is predicted to be 27 per cent for today and 25 per cent on November 1. An improvement to the lower end of the 'Very poor' category is expected by November 2. (With inputs from agencies)

Delhi: Pollution control body declares public health emergency as air quality turns 'hazardous'

Environmentalists and residents in New Delhi urged authorities to shift the upcoming India-Bangladesh Twenty20 match to a different venue as air pollution remained at the most severe level in the Indian capital for the second day running on Wednesday (October 30).

As pollution plagues Delhi, calls grow to shift India-Bangladesh T20 match

delhi-air-quality-index

Delhi Air Quality Index, News on Delhi Air Quality Index, stories on Delhi Air Quality Index, articles on Delhi Air Quality Index, Delhi Air Quality Index stories at Wion, Delhi Air Quality Index news, Delhi Air Quality Index latest news

delhi air-quality-index

Taj Mahal gets air purifier as Delhi breathes toxic air

Delhi: Pollution control body declares public health emergency as air quality turns 'hazardous'

As pollution plagues Delhi, calls grow to shift India-Bangladesh T20 match