Charlotte de Witte Forced to Cancel New Delhi Show Due to Air Pollution

Toxic air pollution over 50 times the safe limit led New Delhi authorities to forbid events like Charlotte de Witte’s Sunburn Arena show.

Toxic air pollution in New Delhi has reached hazardous levels, prompting city officials to forbid large-scale gatherings. Among them is Charlotte de Witte‘s Sunburn Arena show, which was slated to take place on Saturday, November 23.

AP reports that the air pollution in New Delhi is primarily caused by farmers burning crop residue in rural areas, and it escalates in the cold season as lower temperatures trap smoke in the air. Emissions from industrial processes and coal burning for electricity also contribute to it each year. In several areas of the city, it surpassed the safe limit established by the World Health Organization.

“The show in Delhi on Saturday sadly can’t take place,” wrote Charlotte de Witte in an Instagram post. “Due to a severe case of air pollution, the government is not allowing any big events to happen. I’m very sorry I won’t be able to be with you this weekend. I’m hoping to be able to give you the show you deserve in the future, in safer conditions.”

Charlotte de Witte will go ahead with the Mumbai and Bangalore shows scheduled this weekend in partnership with Sunburn Arena. Meanwhile, international event brand Brunch Electronik has announced that it must cancel its December 15 event at Jayamahal Palace in Bengaluru, although this is likely due to noise complaints from neighbors.

New Delhi is now on the final and strictest stage of a four-part response plan that resulted in schools shutting down, construction being postponed, and non-essential trucks being prevented from entering the city. Authorities are employing measures such as sprinklers and cloud seeding to curb the smog, according to Al Jazeera.