New Delhi is fighting against air pollution choking the city. They also affect animals from the local zoo. To relieve them, the authorities decided to use a simple method.
In the autumn and winter, the air quality in New Delhi, the capital of India, deteriorates significantly. On Sunday, the concentration of PM2.5 suspended dust there was 1,672 micrograms per cubic meter – over 130 times higher than the recommendations of the World Health Organization. Visibility in some districts dropped to 100 meters.
Behind the fence and the veil of smog
Poor air quality affected not only people. On Sunday, visitors to the New Delhi Zoo watched animals in enclosures shrouded in thick, toxic dust. On Monday, the zoo authorities took action to mitigate the effects of deteriorating air quality. Spraying water helped wash some of the dust out of the air, improving visibility and making breathing easier.
On Monday, local authorities imposed restrictions on vehicle movement in New Delhi and surrounding areas. The new regulations include a ban on diesel trucks in the city center. Primary and middle schools worked remotely to limit the exposure of the city's youngest residents to pollution.
Smog, a toxic mixture of smoke and fog, torments New Delhi's residents every year. In the fall and winter, cold, still air remains over the city, trapping emissions from cars and homes, as well as dust from grass burned on farms in nearby states.
Main photo source: Reuters