DELHI GASPS FOR BREATH

NEW DELHI: The National Capital Region was engulfed in a toxic haze on Tuesday, with the worst pollution levels this season reducing visibility, disrupting flights and trains, and forcing the Delhi government and central authorities to announce a slew of emergency measures to minimise health hazards.

A sharp drop in temperature, coupled with low wind speeds aggravated by high relative humidity, sent the average daily air quality index (AQI) to 448 — worse than the post-Diwali haze that had pushed the reading up to 403 for a day on October 20. Relief is not likely soon, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) warned, predicting similar conditions for the next two to three days.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal described the city as a “gas chamber” and his government ordered the closure of all primary schools on Wednesday, while restricting the outdoor activities of senior students. Junior classes will remain closed for longer if the air quality doesn’t improve, the government said.

The EPCA — a Supreme-court appointed pollution control panel with sweeping powers – announced a fourfold hike in parking fees across NCR, and asked the Metro rail corporation to reduce fares during off-peak hours. It also asked the government to prepare for the odd-even road rationing scheme, which will be implemented if the air quality index breaches the “severe-plus” zone of 500 for 48 hours as per the Graded Response Action Plan.

Metro officials said slashing ticket prices would be difficult.