"Public Health Crisis: Hazardous Air Quality Forces School Closures in Delhi-NCR"

Northern India, including New Delhi, is experiencing severe air pollution due to seasonal fires and a combination of other pollutants. The smog, visible from space, has led to "very unhealthy" air quality, school closures, and advisories for residents to stay indoors. The primary cause is stubble burning, a practice where farmers burn off excess paddy straw after rice harvest. This, along with vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and desert dust, contributes to hazardous levels of particulate matter in the air. Efforts are being made to mitigate the situation, including the implementation of vehicle restrictions and cloud seeding to induce rain and wash out pollution.