India¡¯s capital recorded its worst pollution in nearly a decade this winter, sparking rare public protests and criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi¡¯s party over its handling of the air quality emergency.
In November and December, when pollution in New Delhi typically peaks, the air quality index was above 300 on 88% of days, according to Bloomberg calculations based on official data. That¡¯s the highest percentage since at least 2017. A reading of 50 is considered acceptable, while levels of 300 or above are deemed hazardous, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
New Delhi has battled air pollution for years, with a combination of crop-burning in neighboring states, traffic congestion and cold weather making the winter smog particularly bad. It regularly ranks among cities with the worst air in the world, creating a serious health hazard for its 30 million residents, especially children.
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