Bangladesh capital most polluted as toxic smog engulfs South Asian cities
Al Jazeera
Capitals of India and Bangladesh see thick layers of toxic smog, ‘very poor’ air quality as normal lives are affected.
The capitals of India and Bangladesh are blanketed by a thick layer of toxic smog, as air quality plummets in both New Delhi and Dhaka.
Dhaka briefly emerged as the world’s most polluted city on Wednesday, with a “hazardous” index level of 325, according to Swiss climate monitor IQAir.
By midday, however, conditions improved slightly, with the index dropping to 177 – still in the “unhealthy” range.
The air quality in Dhaka, one of the world’s most crowded cities with more than 20 million residents, has worsened in recent years as fossil fuels are overused, bringing health problems for the people.
“We often suffer from asthma, fever and allergies while operating rickshaws on the streets,” said Rafiq Mondal, who drives a vehicle for a living. “It is often very painful.”
