In Photos: Delhi Gasps for Breath Amid ‘Severe’ Air Pollution

Pollution levels have peaked to its maximum in the last three years in New Delhi.

A jogger wears a pollution mask early morning amidst light smog in New Delhi. The national capital’s air quality dropped to the season’s worst on the morning after Diwali. 

(Photo: AP)

Burning eyes, itchy skin, difficulty to breathe.

For the residents of Delhi, clean air is a luxury. Air pollution in the city and neighbouring NCR Regions worsened over the last one week, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) levels reaching as high 900 in some areas.

On 1 November, the capital city’s air quality dropped to an ‘emergency’ category for the first time since January 2019.

As pollution levels peak to its maximum in the last three years and thick smog envelops the city, people are left to the mercy of masks and air purifiers for a breath of fresh air.

An aerial view of the capital covered in smog. The city was enveloped in a thick layer of smog on the minimum temperature settling at 18.7 degrees Celsius, four notches above the season’s average. (Photo: PTI) 

All India Students’ Association (AISA) activists form a human chain demanding immediate steps to control air pollution at CP’s Central Park, in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) 

Commuters ride on Rajpath amid heavy smog in New Delhi on Sunday. (Photo: PTI) 

Students demand immediate steps to control air pollution at CP’s Central Park, in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) 

People wear masks amid heavy smog as the air quality further dips to the hazardous ‘severe plus’ category on Sunday, 3 November. (Photo: PTI) 

Delhi metro running amid dense haze and low visibility, in Ghaziabad on Thursday 31 October. (Photo: PTI) 

People wear masks as the air quality further dips to the hazardous ‘severe plus’ category. (Photo: PTI)

Congress supporters protest against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in relation to the soaring pollution levels in Delhi, near his residence. (Photo: PTI) 

Chhath Puja celebrations, where women pay obeisance to the rising sun along the ghats on the Yamuna banks and water bodies in the city, have also added to pollution.

Plastic bags scattered on a pavement along Geeta Colony Setu over the River Yamuna. (Photo: PTI) 

Devotees offers prayers to the rising sun as toxic foam floats on the surface of polluted Yamuna river during Chhath Puja celebrations, at Kalindi Kunj, in New Delhi on 3 November. (Photo: PTI) 

Students wearing mask walk amid an atmoshphere shrouded in smog in Rohtak, Saturday, 2 November 2019.(Photo: PTI) 

A jogger wears a pollution mask early morning amidst light smog in New Delhi. The national capital’s air quality dropped to the season’s worst on the morning after Diwali. (Photo: AP)