New Delhi was once ranked as the most polluted city in the world, according to Greenpeace and AirVisual - a report by the two organizations found that seven of the world's 10 most air-polluted cities are in India.
Major airlines including Air India and SpiceJet warned on November 3 that they would cancel or delay flights to and from the city’s international airport. While planes can still land during times of reduced visibility due to pollution, not all pilots are trained to do so. However, air conditions improved by the afternoon, allowing some flights to connect.
New Delhi has more than 18 million people and 8.8 million registered vehicles, more than any other city in India, according to 2016 government statistics.
At this time of year, pollution in the city worsens as temperatures drop and farmers set fires to clear land for crops. Smoke from firecrackers set off to celebrate the Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, also adds to the smog, according to CNN.
In recent days, smog has enveloped the city, severely reducing visibility, hindering traffic and halting all outdoor activities.
On November 1, Mr. Kejriwal announced that officials had begun distributing 5 million masks to schoolchildren in the city. Schools in the area have been ordered to close until November 5.
