Schools shuttered, buses banned as toxic smog envelops New Delhi

Schools across India’s capital New Delhi have been shuttered and construction activity halted as the city was declared the world’s most polluted. The closures were ordered on Friday as air pollution rose to dangerous levels, with Swiss air quality monitoring group IQAir. It put the city’s air quality index (AQI) at 611 in the ‘hazardous’ category. A reading of 0-50 is considered good. Anything between 400-500 is unhealthy.
The city woke up to a thick layer of toxic smog, and residents also complained of irritation in the eyes and itchy throats, triggering an order for some schools to be shut for two days.
Meanwhile, the region’s Commission for Air Quality Management said that unfavourable meteorological conditions, sudden increase in the farm fire incidents, and northwesterly winds moving the pollutants to Delhi are the major causes for sudden spike in AQI.