**Alarming Air Pollution in New Delhi Reaches 50 Times Over WHO Safety Limits**

Residents in New Delhi, India, struggled to breathe amidst a severe blanket of toxic smog on Wednesday as air pollution levels soared beyond 50 times the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended daily limit. This escalating situation has left many of the city’s inhabitants grappling with the detrimental health impacts, especially those who cannot afford air filters or adequately seal their homes against the pervasive, foul-smelling air.

Cooler temperatures and slow-moving winds during the winter months, from mid-October to at least January, exacerbate the problem by trapping harmful pollutants. On Wednesday morning, pollutant levels in some parts of this vast urban area of over 30 million people reached "hazardous" levels, hitting 806 micrograms per cubic meter, as reported by the monitoring firm IQAir. This figure is more than 53 times above the WHO's daily recommended maximum for PM2.5 pollutants—fine particulate matter capable of causing cancer and entering the bloodstream through the lungs. By midday, although the air quality slightly improved, it remained 25-35 times above dangerous levels across various districts.

The annual occurrence of acrid smog in the city is primarily attributed to stubble burning by farmers in neighboring regions, combined with emissions from factories and vehicular traffic. Additionally, an investigative report by The New York Times recently highlighted dangerous pollutants emanating from a power plant incinerating garbage from Delhi's landfill sites. Experts found "alarming" levels of heavy metals in air and soil samples collected over five years.

The hazardous smog has also caused significant disruptions in air travel, with several flights across northern India delayed. The India Meteorological Department reported that visibility dropped below 1,000 meters at 18 regional airports, falling further below 500 meters in Delhi.

In response to the crisis, India's Supreme Court ruled last month that clean air is a fundamental human right, instructing both central and state authorities to take immediate action. Despite several initiatives launched by city authorities to curb pollution, these measures have had little tangible impact. Regular spraying of water by government trucks only provides temporary relief, and a new initiative to use small drones to spray water mist has been criticized as merely a "band-aid" solution to a severe public health crisis.

According to the WHO, air pollution can lead to strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, and other respiratory ailments. A 2019 study published in The Lancet medical journal linked air pollution to 1.67 million premature deaths in India, the world's most populous country.