New Delhi has moved all schools to online classes starting Monday because the air quality has become extremely dangerous. The pollution level has gone beyond 60 times the daily limit set by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This poor air quality causes thousands of early deaths every year, with children and elderly people being at the highest risk.

On Monday morning, the pollution levels in New Delhi reached alarming heights. The level of PM2.5 pollutants, tiny harmful particles that can cause cancer and enter the bloodstream through the lungs, hit 907 micrograms per cubic metre. The World Health Organisation (WHO) considers any reading above 15 unhealthy. Some monitoring stations showed even worse results, with one station recording PM2.5 levels at 980, which is 65 times the WHO limit.

Subodh Kumar, a 30-year-old rickshaw puller, shared his experience of the harmful effects. “My eyes have been burning for the last few days,” he said. “Pollution or no pollution, I have to be on the road; where else will I go?” He continued, “We don’t have an option to stay indoors...our livelihood, food, and life—everything is in the open.”

Why is the smog so bad in New Delhi?

Dense grey smog covered New Delhi, with air quality monitors labelling the conditions as "hazardous." The city's annual pollution crisis is mainly caused by farmers in nearby areas burning stubble to prepare their fields for the next season. In addition, emissions from factories and vehicle exhausts worsen the situation. A recent report by The New York Times also revealed that fumes from a power plant burning the city’s garbage are contributing to the toxic air.

To fight the worsening air pollution, the New Delhi government introduced several measures on Monday. These include closing primary schools, limiting diesel-powered trucks, and halting construction work. The authorities hope that keeping children at home will reduce traffic and improve air quality. "Physical classes shall be discontinued for all students, apart from Class 10 and 12," said Chief Minister Atishi in a statement on Sunday. The government has also urged people, especially children, the elderly, and those with lung or heart conditions, to stay indoors as much as possible.

How has the pollution affected daily life?

Many people in New Delhi cannot afford air filters or make their homes safe from the dangerous pollution. Rinku Kumar, a 45-year-old Rickshaw driver, shared his frustration with the situation. "The rich ministers and officials can afford to stay indoors, not ordinary people like us," he said. "Who can even afford an air purifier when paying monthly bills is a challenge?"

The severe pollution has also affected travel, with dozens of flights delayed over the past week due to low visibility caused by the smog.

New Delhi and its surrounding area have some of the worst air pollution in the world, especially during the winter. The cooler weather and slow winds trap the pollution in the air, making the air quality worse from mid-October until at least January.

The Supreme Court of India declared last month that clean air is a fundamental human right and ordered the government to take immediate action. On Monday, the court met again to discuss the lack of progress in tackling the pollution crisis. Critics say political conflicts between rival politicians and between the central and state governments have made it harder to fix the problem. Some politicians are accused of not acting because they do not want to upset powerful farming groups in their areas.