The air quality in Delhi reached severe levels on Friday, shrouding the city in a dense toxic smog, signaling the onset of an annual environmental crisis for India’s capital.
In response to the deteriorating air quality, authorities took drastic measures, closing schools and imposing a ban on non-essential construction activities. The air quality index in the city nearly touched 500, an alarming level that exceeds the World Health Organization’s recommended limit by a staggering 100-fold.
The decline in air quality over the past week can be attributed to various factors. The practice of burning fields by farmers in the neighboring states of Haryana and Punjab during the crop planting season, combined with winds carrying pollutants into Delhi and a drop in temperatures, has contributed to the worsening situation.
In a single day, the state of Punjab recorded a 740% surge in farm fires, exceeding a thousand cases. Additional sources of pollution in the city include vehicle emissions, ongoing construction, and the incineration of waste at disposal facilities.
Delhi, home to approximately 33 million residents, consistently earns the dubious distinction of being one of the most polluted cities globally. According to this year’s air quality life index from the University of Chicago’s energy policy institute, the poor air quality in Delhi could reduce residents’ lifespans by an average of 11.9 years.
Medical professionals in Delhi are already witnessing the detrimental impact of pollution on the city’s population. Dr. Nikhil Modi, based at Apollo Hospital in Delhi, reported an increase in patients with respiratory issues, coughs, colds, watery and irritated eyes, and breathing difficulties, affecting individuals of all ages. He emphasized the necessity of wearing masks and minimizing outdoor exposure.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, pollution levels in Delhi during October were the worst since 2020.
Despite claims from the Delhi government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), that they have a robust pollution action plan, there has been limited progress in combating the recurring air quality crisis that plagues Delhi’s residents between November and January each year.
The AAP government’s efforts to address pollution have included measures such as sprinkling water on roads to reduce dust and the construction of two “smog towers,” each costing over $2 million, with the intended purpose of purifying the air. However, scientists have largely deemed these efforts ineffective.
Delhi found itself engulfed in a severe air pollution crisis on Friday as a thick and toxic smog descended upon the city. This grim event marks the commencement of an annual environmental catastrophe that plagues India’s capital.
In response to the alarming air quality, authorities took swift action, shutting down schools and imposing a ban on non-essential construction. The air quality index in the city nearly reached 500, an astonishing level that exceeds the recommended safe limit by the World Health Organization by a staggering 100-fold.
The deteriorating air quality over the past week can be attributed to various factors. The practice of burning fields by farmers in the neighboring states of Haryana and Punjab during the crop planting season, combined with winds carrying pollutants into Delhi and a drop in temperatures, has contributed to the worsening situation.
In a single day, the state of Punjab recorded a 740% surge in farm fires, exceeding a thousand cases. Additional sources of pollution in the city include vehicle emissions, ongoing construction, and the incineration of waste at disposal facilities.
Delhi, home to approximately 33 million residents, consistently earns the dubious distinction of being one of the most polluted cities globally. According to this year’s air quality life index from the University of Chicago’s energy policy institute, the poor air quality in Delhi could reduce residents’ lifespans by an average of 11.9 years.
Medical professionals in Delhi are already witnessing the detrimental impact of pollution on the city’s population. Dr. Nikhil Modi, based at Apollo Hospital in Delhi, reported an increase in patients with respiratory issues, coughs, colds, watery and irritated eyes, and breathing difficulties, affecting individuals of all ages. He emphasized the necessity of wearing masks and minimizing outdoor exposure.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, pollution levels in Delhi during October were the worst since 2020.
Despite claims from the Delhi government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), that they have a robust pollution action plan, there has been limited progress in combating the recurring air quality crisis that plagues Delhi’s residents between November and January each year.
The AAP government’s efforts to address pollution have included measures such as sprinkling water on roads to reduce dust and the construction of two “smog towers,” each costing over $2 million, with the intended purpose of purifying the air. However, scientists have largely deemed these efforts ineffective.
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