On Thursday (Nov. 2), a thick ‘apocalyptic haze’ blanketed India’s capital, Delhi, for the third day in a row, with air quality falling to ‘dangerous’ levels and inhabitants longing for fresh air. The Anand Vihar region of Delhi has the greatest amount of air pollution, with an air quality index (AQI) of 999. According to the weather agency aqicn.org, Delhi’s air quality was above 500 on average. A value of 0–50 is considered healthy, while a value of 300 or more indicates harmful air quality.
In India, the AQI is used to assess how terrible the pollution is throughout the city
In India, the AQI is used to assess how terrible the pollution is throughout the city. The higher the AQI value, the worse the air pollution and the greater the health risk. Scientists have warned that pollution levels in Delhi and surrounding areas will continue to rise over the next two weeks. Health experts have also expressed concern that the increase in air pollution may exacerbate respiratory and asthma problems, particularly among youngsters and the elderly.
“We are recording a surge in the number of irritative bronchitis infections. It is recommended that people suffering from respiratory issues such as chronic bronchitis and asthma take their medicines regularly and do not go out in the open unless absolutely necessary,” Jugal Kishore, the head of the medicine department at Safdarjung Hospital, told PTI news agency.
Much of north India frequently has poor air quality during the winter months due to farmers burning rice stalks
Meanwhile, a central pollution panel barred non-essential building activities as well as the admission of diesel trucks into the capital city on Thursday. The restrictions were implemented as part of the Stage III Graded Action Response Plan, which was designed to address the capital’s and neighboring areas’ annual spike in pollution. The committee noted during a meeting that the pollution was projected to worsen due to “extremely unfavorable meteorological and climatic conditions.”
Much of north India frequently has poor air quality during the winter months due to farmers burning rice stalks and freezing temperatures allowing pollutants to be trapped near the ground, a phenomenon known as temperature inversions. According to a study performed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), peak pollution in the city occurs between November 1 and November 15, when the number of stubble-burning occurrences in Punjab and Haryana increases. In addition, poor weather conditions, combined with emissions from firecrackers, paddy straw burning, and local pollution sources, contribute to hazardous air quality levels in Delhi-NCR throughout the winter.
