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Delhiites Are Sharing Terrifying Smog Pictures As Air Pollution Reaches Apocalyptic Levels

No, it's not the dust on your camera lens.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images

A thick blanket of smog has settled over the Delhi-NCR region in the past week that has reduced visibility considerably and produced a burning sensation in the eyes.

The reason for the degradation of air quality and the smog blanket have been attributed to the combination of smoke from crop burning by farmers in the neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab, fireworks on Diwali and vehicle emissions in the area.

NASA

According to the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the air quality index in Delhi on Wednesday touched the 500 mark.

The PM (particulate matter) 10 levels reached a massive 999, more than 10 times higher than the safe limit, reported The Indian Express.

And for the first time ever, more than 1,800 public primary schools in India's capital were shut on Saturday to protect children from exposure to dangerous levels of air pollution.

Being a Noida resident myself, here's a view from my balcony at 1pm IST on Saturday (5th November).

HuffPost India

And over the past week, residents of Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram have taken to social media and shared photos of increased levels of smog and the low visibility.

So put on your gas masks and get ready to go on a toxic, blurry and teary-eyed ride.

Zero visibility at Sarai Kale Khan #Delhi#smogpic.twitter.com/jP9gWOSur0

— Tarun Kumar (@TK_Scribbler) October 31, 2016

guess #delhi didn't do too well despite pledges & health warning! Morning after air looks bad, can't go for walk :( pic.twitter.com/QunT360lfb

— Shivnath Thukral (@shivithukral) October 31, 2016

Sky shot - You give Him, sky gives back to you!! Unprecedented Smog in Delhi... Pls say no to crackers! pic.twitter.com/ekazkGNl7G

— DCP North Delhi (@DCP_North_Delhi) November 2, 2016

We also seem to have lost the qutub minor, which should be here.

And some socks. pic.twitter.com/YDbqUpb28M

— π (@pi_alize) November 2, 2016

#Winter is finally here. Love-like stuff happening. The #Noida weather right now. Sigh. pic.twitter.com/yxBPiKpjBG

— Ananya Bhattacharya (@ananya116) November 2, 2016

Kalkaji, as viewed from 15th floor of a building in Nehru Place, New Delhi.

Pic 1: Aug 22, '16

Pic 2: Today

Around same time. #Pollutionpic.twitter.com/UfLeOwCf31

— Rajesh Advani (@advanirajesh) November 3, 2016

Don't just blame firecrackers for smog in delhi , constant toxic fire and smoke from garbage mountain from Ghazipur dump in east delhi pic.twitter.com/lFXBg9Vb9v

— ❅ Keep Smiling (@upma23) November 2, 2016

Wtf delhi??? I don't want to step out of the plane now. pic.twitter.com/z5YSZlmyrr

— Manu Chandra 🍴 (@chefchandra) November 2, 2016

Darkness at noon with #delhipollution - flights delayed. @PMOIndia is someone listening? pic.twitter.com/cHRaNwCTEx

— Manas Fuloria (@mfuloria) November 2, 2016

View from my sister-in-law's house in Noida - 16th Floor pic.twitter.com/UEJI5QP6OQ

— Madhu Menon (@madmanweb) November 2, 2016

Is this fog? Smog? Or pure polluted air? From my balcony at 9am #Noidapic.twitter.com/iM6m6vDmHE

— vijaita singh (@vijaita) November 2, 2016

This is a pic of #DelhiSmog. Sky is full of it at 11.41am. Eyes burning. Lethal & dangerous 4 people living here. #NeedsImmediateAttentionpic.twitter.com/SJ8Dn6xQ1F

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) November 5, 2016

View from my office window on Oct 24 afternoon, and this afternoon (Nov 2). What a difference a week can make! #pollution#gurgaon#delhipic.twitter.com/p2Rrtmofbl

— Sanjiv Kapoor (@TheSanjivKapoor) November 2, 2016

Gurgaon. Enough said. pic.twitter.com/JCXAuoS1HT

— Shakti Shetty (@Shakti_Shetty) November 2, 2016

Delhi, 10am. Air pollution at 14 times safe levels. If it were my home city, I'd be ashamed #delhipollution#smogpic.twitter.com/16m27EhIGL

— Giles Gibson (@Giles_wion) November 2, 2016

Rapid #metro passing through dense #smog in #Gurgaon. pic.twitter.com/4dbPx1uuFU

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) November 5, 2016

Gurgaon or Gurugram at 10-40 am today. Delhi has beaten Beijing in air pollution. @arunkumarhgpic.twitter.com/6V1BpvmQOe

— DP SATISH (@dp_satish) November 2, 2016

Look at the smog in Delhi this afternoon.Its an emergency situation.I hope the govts can hear the alarm bell. #RealEmergencypic.twitter.com/1Ia8U1nwr8

— Sudhir Chaudhary (@sudhirchaudhary) November 5, 2016

Traveling to Delhi by train- distressed to see burning of Agri waste in fields en route:( the resulting pall of smog in Connaught Place pic.twitter.com/tXCe3tkoHq

— Meera Sanyal (@meerasanyal) November 5, 2016

Luckily enough, some users didn't lose their humour in the smog.

Delhi Calendar

Jan

Feb

June

June

June

June

July

June

June

Oct

Smog

Smog

— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) November 2, 2016

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.