New Delhi engulfed by pollution so bad United Airlines halts flights

John Bacon | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Breathing the air in Delhi, India, like smoking 44 cigarettes a day The air quality in India is so bad, its the equivalent of smoking 44 cigarettes a day. Veuer's Nick Cardona (@nickcardona93) has that story.

New Delhi officials will lobby Monday for a plan to ration the use of private cars amid a grimy cloud of pollution so foul that United Airlines has halted flights to India's capital, while many residents wore masks for their Sunday strolls.

Many schools have been closed since the toxic air mass descended on the region almost a week ago. The government has banned most construction and industrial activity. Most trucks and heavy vehicles have been parked. Residents were urged to stay inside and wear masks outside.

"It comes inside the house, even if you close your windows," Shyami Sodhi, a Delhi resident, told Sky News. "It's difficult to breathe."

The city is considering a plan to blast water from fire trucks and water cannons into the air to help wash away the haze.

A pollution crisis is nothing new to the region. The city is teeming with old cars, trucks and motorbikes spewing pollution unimpeded by mitigation technology. Cooking and industrial emissions add to the problem. And in spring and fall, the noxious clouds from trash and agricultural debris burned outside the city can roll in and hover for weeks.

"People at India Gate (memorial) out for a morning walk say it is tough to breathe ... and many (are) wearing masks," The Indian Express reported.

Britain's government has issued an advisory to travelers that "severe air pollution is a major hazard to public health in Delhi." Children, the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions may be especially affected, the government warns.

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United Airlines spokesman Jonathan Guerin said the airline, one of the world's largest, is monitoring advisories as the region combats a "public health emergency."

"United temporarily suspended our Newark-Delhi flights due to poor air quality concerns in Delhi and currently has waiver policies in place for customers who are traveling to, from or through Delhi," Guerin said in a statement.

The plan to temporarily limit private vehicle use to every other day based on odd-even license plate numbers was to go into effect Monday but hit a speed bump when federal environmental officials declined to grant exemptions for women and two-wheeled vehicles. Local officials said the exemptions are crucial, expressing concern for the viability of the overwhelmed public transportation system — and women's safety.

"Odd Even was not to satisfy anybody's ego," tweeted spokesman Saurabh Bharadwaj of the Aam Aadmi Party. "Women being vulnerable cannot be exposed to risks. Delhi Govt Committed to safety and security."

If the exemptions can be secured, the plan should ease traffic a lot and pollution at least a little.

The Indian Meteorological Department said high humidity was contributing to the thick air paralyzing the city but issued a small ray of hope: Light rains forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday might start to dissipate the blanket that has held the region hostage.