Air Quality Alert
On November 18, the more than 33 million residents of New Delhi, India, woke up to an ugly surprise. The city was covered in smog. It’s a kind of air pollution that creates a thick, toxic fog. In some parts of New Delhi, air pollution levels were more than 50 times the recommended safe limit, which is set by the World Health Organization. India’s government called the situation “severe plus.”
Authorities worked to protect people. Schools closed, and classes for most grades moved online. Construction projects stopped, and nonessential trucks were barred from entering the city. Authorities encouraged people to stay indoors. This warning applied mainly to young children, the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses. Smog is especially dangerous for people in these groups.
Air pollution is a big problem in Northern India, where New Delhi is located. Much of the pollution is produced by farmers burning their fields before planting new crops. That creates smoke, which blows into cities.
Residents are upset about the air quality. Sanjay Goel, who lives in New Delhi, told the Associated Press that “everyone has a sore throat.”
Stop and Think!
WHY did the writer include a quote from someone who lives in New Delhi? How does a local perspective inform readers?
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