New Delhi topped a real-time list on Friday of the world’s most polluted cities compiled by Swiss group IQAir which put India’s capital’s AQI at 611 in the ‘hazardous’ category.
“Unfavourable meteorological conditions, sudden increase in the farm fire incidents and north-westerly winds moving the pollutants to Delhi are the major causes for sudden spike in AQI,” the region’s Commission for Air Quality Management said on Thursday.
Authorities ordered primary, or elementary, schools to remain shut on Friday and Saturday, while most construction work in the region has been suspended.
Some suppliers of air purifier filters in the region said there was a shortage as demand had suddenly spiked.
This year, attention on the worsening air quality has cast a shadow over the cricket World Cup hosted by India, with financial capital Mumbai also suffering from a spike in the pollution levels.
Delhi hosts a World Cup match next on Monday between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Last year, Bhiwadi in northern India was the country’s most polluted city and third in the world, according to IQAir. New Delhi was fourth while Pakistan’s Lahore and China’s Hotan topped the list.Â
Source: CNA
