Urgency of crisis demands quick action

Returning from a month-long holiday in the US, I was immediately struck by the urgency of the pollution crisis as I landed in Delhi, past midnight this week.

The dark skies, sheets of dust, heat, and difficulty in breathing welcomed me as a stark reminder and a pressing call to action.

The pollution levels in Delhi have soared to their highest this week. New Delhi has reached hazardous levels, causing state officials to limit movement and revive plans to stimulate artificial rain to clear toxins.

This forced schools and offices to close due to the thick brown smog cloaking the city and demanded immediate action.

The number of respiratory diseases in children and older adults is rising, along with other health issues.

In cold winters in the north, smog covers the area every year and traps harmful pollutants from fires, construction sites and factories.

This issue worsens when farmers burn their stubble after the harvest to prepare for new crops.

The same or even worse scenario unfolds yearly, reaching alarming levels over time.

Citizens feel helpless in the face of severe pollution, while politicians engage in a blame game.

As a result, the public endures poor air quality, which seriously threatens their health.

Some people escape to warmer destinations during winter, but children and older people suffer the most.

Many schools have closed, and residents have been advised to stay indoors.