By GRACE KONIG
Staff Writer
India’s capital — which is ranked the most polluted city in the world — experienced hazardous levels of pollution on Friday afternoon, getting up to 743 particles PM2.5 per cubic meter on the air quality index in some areas. Any level above 100 is considered unhealthy. This intense air quality has forced five million New Delhi to be given face masks by the government as the city battles heavy smog so toxic it threatens schools to shut down. New Delhi’s air is often bad at this time of year. In addition to crop burning, the smog worsens as people set off firecrackers to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Even before the heavy smog, the city’s government signaled that it would mean the odd-even car rule this month for the first time since 2016, meaning more than 4 million cars could be taken off the road each day. Anyone who breaks the rules faces a 4,000 rupee ($56) fine. The government has been trying to come up with new effective ways to stop pollution or make it better.