Closed schools, halted work, restricted use of vehicles: India engulfed in smog | DW News

Every autumn India’s capital becomes engulfed in smog. A lack of wind and low temperatures trap pollutants and force authorities to shut schools, ban construction and restrict traffic to mitigate a problem caused by many contributing factors: Crop stubble burning in neighboring states is generally the trigger. Farmers need to clear crop residue from their fields before planting for the next season and burning is the cheapest and most convenient way for many to do so. But this, coupled with cooler temperatures during this season and pollution, contribute every year to Delhi's smog problem. The city is now gearing up for Diwali celebrations at the weekend. Residents will set off firecrackers to celebrate, further compounding an already difficult situation.

Across the border, toxic smog is affecting people in Pakistan as well. In Lahore, students have been asked to wear masks to school and police have been asked to crack down on smoke-emitting vehicles as well as the practice of rice stubble burning. Air quality has been hovering around the 'hazardous' mark since last week, when the city was ranked the second most polluted after Delhi by the Swiss group IQAir. Here's what residents of Lahore had to say.

For more news go to

Follow DW on social media:

Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie

#India #Smog #Pollution