India has tightened restrictions in New Delhi and surrounding areas to combat smog.
The development took place after Pakistan took severe measures in the cities of Lahore and Multan.
In India, the new measures, effective from Monday morning, entail a ban on diesel trucks in Delhi, the closure of educational institutions and a shift to remote working, as advised by the local administration.
Local authorities have also announced plans to sprinkle water with dust suppressants on roads and deploy mechanised sweeping to reduce dust.
New Delhi grapples with smog, a toxic blend of smoke and fog, each winter as cold air traps dust, emissions and smoke from illegal farm fires.
Air quality in northern India has worsened over the past week, with New Delhi’s AQI recording a reading of 465, classified as “severe plus category”, on Sunday evening due to unfavourable meteorological conditions, a government statement said.
Around 38 per cent of the pollution in New Delhi this year has been caused by stubble burning — a practice where stubble left after harvesting rice is burnt to clear fields — in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana.
Lockdown in Pakistan to combat smog
Pakistan’s Punjab declared a health emergency due to toxic smog on Friday, banning construction, shutting schools for another week and moving universities online.
Lahore and Multan are currently under a completely three-day closure on weekend as a result of the smog. Additionally, educational institutions are encouraged to transition to online instruction.
Authorities have also banned entry to parks, zoos, playgrounds and other public spaces.
Dense smog, caused by toxic pollutants, engulfed several cities in Punjab over the past few weeks, with Lahore and Multan being the worst hit. The AQI reading in Multan has already crossed 2,000 twice, setting a new record for air pollution.
However, due to the artificial rain in Lahore on Sunday, the air quality got better.
