India

India: New Delhi plans to make rain to tackle 'hazardous' smog

NEW DELHI, Nov 8 (Reuters) - New Delhi plans for the first time to make rain to try improve air quality in the city, which is the world's most polluted capital and has been gripped by smog for a week.

The city has already shut all schools, stopped construction activities, and said it will impose restrictions on vehicle use.

Depending on legal approval and weather conditions, the local environment minister said authorities would try to induce rain from around Nov. 20.

India: New Delhi to restrict use of vehicles to curb air pollution

NEW DELHI, Nov 6 (Reuters) - India's Delhi city will restrict use of vehicles next week to curb rising pollution as air quality in the capital remained dangerously unsafe for a third consecutive day despite mitigation efforts.

New Delhi ranks among the world's top polluted cities every year ahead of the onset of winter, when calm winds and low temperatures trap pollutants from sources including vehicles, industries, construction dust, and crop residue burning in nearby fields.

India: Construction, Demolition Activities Banned In Delhi As Air Pollution Turns Severe

NEW DELHI, Nov 3 (NNN-PTI) – India’s Commission for Air Quality Management, has banned construction and demolition activities in and around the national capital city, except for essential government projects, with immediate effect.

The restrictions were also imposed on mining and stone-crushing. Strict restrictions covered on plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel light motor vehicles in Delhi and several nearby districts.

Delhi’s air quality turned “hazardous,” media reported.

India: Delhi’s Air Quality Remains Very Poor For Third Consecutive Day

NEW DELHI, Oct 31 (NNN-PTI) – Delhi’s air quality remained in the “Very Poor” category, for the third consecutive day yesterday, as the national capital’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 322 over the past three days.

Several areas in the city recorded even worse AQI of over 350, which is dubbed as hazardous for human life.

On Sunday, Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area recorded its highest AQI of 566 for the season.

Explosive device blows up at convention center in south India killing at least one and wounding 36

NEW DELHI (AP) — An explosive device blew up at a convention center in southern India killing at least one person and wounding 36 others Sunday, authorities said.

Hundreds of Jehovah’s Witness faithful were gathered for a prayer session at the Zamra International Convention Center in the town of Kalamassery in Kerala state when the explosion took place.

The state’s top police officer, Sheik Darvesh Saheb, said an initial investigation has revealed an improvised explosive device was used.

Qatar court hands down death penalty verdict for eight Indians - India govt

NEW DELHI, Oct 26 (Reuters) - A Qatar court has announced the death penalty for eight Indians arrested in the country last year, the Indian government said on Thursday, adding it was "deeply shocked" by the verdict.

New Delhi said in a statement that it attaches "high importance to this case" and will "take up the verdict with Qatari authorities".

Local media has reported that the eight men, who worked with a private company in Qatar, were arrested for spying in August 2022, but Reuters could not independently confirm the charges.

India to resume some visa services in Canada

Oct 25 (Reuters) - India will resume some visa services in Canada with effect from Oct. 26, its High Commission said on Wednesday, in a move that could reduce tensions caused by the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada.

India last month suspended new visas for Canadians and asked Canada to reduce its diplomatic presence after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited what he said was credible evidence of a potential link between Indian agents and the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, in a Vancouver suburb in June. Canada subsequently withdrew 41 diplomats.

India to resume Canada visas if diplomats safe: FM

NEW DELHI, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said India would resume issuing visas to Canadians if it saw progress in the safety of its diplomats.

"Our diplomats (in Canada) are not safe. So, if we see progress there, I would like very much to resume the issue of visas. My hope would be that it is something which should happen very, very soon," Jaishankar said on Sunday.

Air quality in Indian capital continues to be very poor

NEW DELHI, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- The air quality in the Indian capital territory continued to be very poor on Sunday, officials said.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), an institute monitoring air pollution, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 302 on Sunday.

The air quality is very poor and prominent pollutants are PM 2.5 and PM 10.

India representatives slam Gaza bombing, call for end to hostilities

16 October 2023; MEMO: A group of opposition leaders, including some present and former parliamentarians, on Monday met the Palestinian envoy in New Delhi to express “solidarity” and urged an “immediate cessation of all hostilities to prevent further loss of innocent lives and the destruction of homes and infrastructure”, Anadolu Agency reports.

Subscribe to India