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Toxic Smog Blankets Northern India and Eastern Pakistan Just Before Diwali

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Northern India and eastern Pakistan are once again covered in a dense, toxic smog, just days before the Diwali festival, when air pollution traditionally spikes due to widespread firework celebrations. Air quality in Delhi was recorded at around 250 on Monday, placing it in the “very unhealthy” category, while Lahore, only 25 kilometers from the Indian border, registered air quality levels over 500—nearly 65 times the World Health Organization’s guidelines for healthy air, making it the world’s most polluted city, according to IQAir.

As winter approaches, the seasonal smog is expected to worsen, fed by agricultural waste burning, emissions from coal-fired power plants, heavy traffic, and stagnant air. Diwali celebrations, which begin on Thursday, typically involve firecracker use, often in violation of local bans, which exacerbates pollution levels. The thick smog not only creates eerie scenes of orange haze but also poses severe health risks, with experts warning that prolonged exposure could reduce life expectancy by years.

Delhi authorities have banned firecrackers in an attempt to curb pollution, but enforcement remains challenging. The Supreme Court of India recently criticized Punjab and Haryana officials for failing to limit illegal stubble burning, a major contributor to smog. Local authorities claim the practice has been curbed significantly, yet smog persists across the region.

India’s government initiated a nationwide Clean Air Programme in 2019, targeting a 40% reduction in particulate matter by 2026 through measures such as stricter coal plant regulations, increased air monitoring, and bans on biomass burning. Temporary measures, including sprinkling water on streets and inducing artificial rain, have been implemented to manage smog, but experts warn that these are short-term fixes that do not address the underlying pollution sources.

While some Indian cities report slight improvements in air quality, New Delhi’s pollution levels remain largely unchanged over recent years. Activists like Jyoti Pande Lavakare, founder of Care for Air, argue that stronger political commitment is necessary to combat pollution on a national scale, as the health consequences of inaction continue to mount.

 

Karachi Schools Closed Amid Rare August Cyclone Threat as Heavy Rains Lash Pakistan’s Largest City

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Schools in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, were shut down on Friday as heavy rains and stormy winds struck the area, driven by a rare cyclonic storm building up in the Arabian Sea. The Pakistan Meteorological Department reported that parts of Karachi received 147 mm (5.79 inches) of rainfall overnight, leading to significant disruptions across the city. In response, Karachi’s mayor, Murtaza Wahab, urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, emphasizing the importance of staying safe during the ongoing weather event.

The storm is the result of a deep depression currently off the Rann of Kutch in India’s Gujarat region, which meteorologists expect to intensify into a cyclonic storm by the end of the day. According to the Indian weather office, the storm is predicted to continue moving north-westward across the Arabian Sea over the next two days.

As a precaution, Pakistani authorities issued warnings to fishermen and sailors to stay away from the sea. They also alerted the public to the high risk of urban flooding in Karachi and flash floods in the hilly regions in the coming days. Disaster management officials have expressed concern that the storm could cause significant damage, particularly given Karachi’s vulnerability to flooding during heavy rains.

The storm’s unusual timing is also noteworthy. The formation of a cyclonic storm over the Arabian Sea in August is rare; the last such occurrence took place in 1964, according to reports. In India’s Gujarat state, over 28 people have already lost their lives due to severe rain and flooding, with around 18,000 residents evacuated from coastal cities since Sunday. More rainfall is expected in the region as the storm continues to build.

The authorities remain on high alert, urging residents of affected areas to take precautions and prepare for the possibility of further flooding.