US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, drew parallels between Delhi’s current severe air pollution and his memories of growing up in Los Angeles, where air quality was a concern. He mentioned that, much like his own childhood, his daughter in Delhi was cautioned by her teacher today about venturing outside due to the hazardous air quality.
“On a day like this in Delhi, it brings back memories of growing up in Los Angeles where the air was the most polluted air anywhere in America,” Garcetti said.
“Where like today, we were given warnings by our teachers that you cannot go outside to play, just as my daughter was given by her teacher today as I dropped her off to school,” he added.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, several areas in Delhi reported ‘severe’ air quality, with a persistent smog enveloping the city for the third consecutive day.
Amid an upsurge in agricultural fires and unfavorable weather conditions, experts have forewarned of an escalation in pollution levels in the Delhi-NCR region over the next two weeks. This is particularly concerning as the air quality index (AQI) in many regions has already surpassed the 400 mark.
Health professionals have expressed apprehensions regarding the potential exacerbation of asthma and respiratory issues, especially in children and the elderly.
At 10 am, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 351. The 24-hour average AQI stood at 364 on Wednesday, 359 on Tuesday, 347 on Monday, 325 on Sunday, 304 on Saturday, and 261 on Friday.
