As world leaders met in Paris on Monday to deal with climate change, a thick smog of pollution hung over the capitals of India and China. However, while Beijing sounded an alert for its citizens, it was business as usual in Delhi, report Amit Bhattacharya and Jayashree Nandi.
Beijing issued an 'orange' pollution alert, the second highest of four levels, that requires suspending outdoor activities in schools and construction work, and warning residents to stay indoors. On Monday afternoon, the PM 2.5 level in Beijing air had crossed 600 micrograms (mcg) per cubic metre.
In Delhi, Monday saw one of the season's worst smog spells with visibility remaining less than 800 metres.
PM 2.5 levels were in the 'severe' category in many parts, reaching up to 530 in Anand Vihar.
Authorities in Beijing have issued an 'orange' pollution alert, the second highest of four, wherein outdoor activities in schools and construction work is suspended and residents are warned to stay indoors, agencies reported.
The reports said late Monday afternoon, the level of fine pollution particles (PM 2.5) in the Beijing air had crossed 600 micrograms (mcg) per cubic metre, around 24 times WHO's safe level for a 24-hour period.
Delhi, meanwhile, witnessed one of its worst smog of the season, with visibility remaining less than 800 metres through Monday. PM 2.5 levels were in the 'severe' category in many parts of the city, with the most polluted spot, Anand Vihar, showing levels up to 530 mcg/cubic m between 2.30pm and 8pm.
Despite being labelled by the WHO as the world's most polluted city, there's no protocol in Delhi for warning residents when pollution levels spike. PM 2.5 levels at individual air monitoring stations have in the past few days crossed the 600 mark.
Many residents complained of a choking feeling as a white smog hung in the air through the last day of November, a month that saw Delhi's air quality dip alarmingly.
"Monday morning (6-8am) saw the densest fog of the season in Delhi. In November, such thick fog usually forms only after rain, when moisture levels go up. Since there has been no rain, it's likely high pollution, combined with moisture and absence of winds caused the fog," said R K Jenamani, director of Met office at IGI Airport.
Like in Delhi, local emissions have combined with weather to produce the year's worst pollution in Beijing. The public has been warned to take protective measures when engaging in outdoor activities and those suffering from respiratory diseases advised to stay indoors. China has a four-tier colour-coded weather warning system with red representing the most severe weather followed by orange, yellow and blue. The last time Beijing issued an orange alert was in February 2014.
