India was also home to 21 of the world's 30 most polluted cities, IQ AirVisual said in the study which focused on the amount of PM2.5, fine particulate matter, in major urban areas. New Delhi's toxic air is caused by vehicle and industrial emissions, dust from building sites, smoke from the burning of rubbish and crop residue in nearby fields. Last year, residents of New Delhi, home to more than 20 million people, could breathe "moderate" to "satisfactory" air only for four days in November and December, when pollution levels peaked. Late last year, the spike in air pollution levels forced authorities, who termed the crisis as a public health emergency, to shut schools twice. "Despite improvements, India still faces serious air pollution challenges," the study said.

Source: bd News24 February 26, 2020 07:30 UTC