India: Air pollution in New Delhi becomes more serious when temperatures drop and wind intensity decreases.

Today's haze continues to cover India's capital New Delhi, pushing pollution levels to "serious" levels in many areas. Officials believe that with cooler weather and softer winds, the city's air pollution could last for weeks.

The overall air quality index (AQI) in the city measured today is 494, according to the Indian government's Environmental Supervisory Authority (SAFAR). This index includes PM 2.5 concentration in the air, which means fine dust particles can go deep into the lungs, causing harm to human health. AQI above 60 is considered unsafe for health.

"It is currently cold, the air cannot rise high to disperse pollutants. All the pollutants are gathering near the ground," said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director of the Science Center and Environment in New Delhi, said.

The National Pollution Control Commission says pollution levels at some point in New Delhi have reached the 500 mark, which is a health risk.

Safar explained that farmers burning rice straw in fields around the city could make the haze worse. The city government has imposed a ban on private and even cars, but Chowdhury is not optimistic about this measure.

"Emergency measures cannot clean the air when there is no wind to dispel the pollutants," Chowdhury said.