New Delhi pollution hits dangerous level, doctors declare health emergency
Pollution in New Delhi hit a dangerous level on Nov. 7, as doctors declared a public health emergency in the Indian capital. On Tuesday, the air quality index, which measures the concentration of poisonous particulate matter in the air, hit the "severe" level of 451 on a scale where the maximum reading is 500 and where anything above 100 is considered unhealthy by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). A thick fog that hung over the sprawling city worsened conditions. Residents and tourists complained of eyes smarting, irritation in the throat and difficulty in breathing. Air and rail traffic were also affected by smog as around 20 flights were delayed and a dozen trains from the national capital were running late due to decreased visibility.