With AQI 498, Delhi is the worlds second most polluted metropolis, after Pakistans Lahore.
New Delhi:
Delhi continues to be wrapped in a blanket of smog, with the air high quality within the “extreme” class for the third consecutive day. With AQI 498, Delhi is the world’s second most polluted metropolis, after Pakistan’s Lahore with AQI 770 recorded at 7 am. IQAir, a Swiss firm, ranks main cities based mostly on Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) information.
The highest 5 polluted areas in Delhi this morning are Jahangirpuri (with AQI 458), Bawana (455), Wazirpur (455), Rohini (452), and Punjabi Bagh (443), in accordance with Central Air pollution Management Board’s Sameer App.
Delhi’s Palam and Safdurjung reported 500m and 400m visibilities respectively.
Low visibility resulting from smog has affected flight and rail operations throughout India. A number of IndiGo flights to and from Amritsar are affected. Many SpiceJet flights to and from Delhi and Darbanga are working late.
Numerous trains are working late by over two hours. Greater than 25 trains arriving at New Delhi railway station are additionally delayed.
With no respite in sight, all primary schools in Delhi have been moved online, Chief Minister Atishi introduced in a submit on X. She stated the net lessons for main faculty kids will proceed “till additional instructions”.
As a result of rising air pollution ranges, all main faculties in Delhi shall be shifting to on-line lessons, till additional instructions.
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) November 14, 2024
On Thursday, the Fee for Air High quality Administration (CAQM) enforced stage 3 of the Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP). Below GRAP 3, the next restrictions and measures have been imposed:
- A ban on non-essential building and demolition work.
- A ban on the operation of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi and elements of the NCR like Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Noida.
- Restricted use of diesel generator units for emergency functions solely. Industrial operations not working on fuels in the usual record of authorised ones are banned.
- Intensified mechanized highway sweeping and water sprinkling to suppress mud.
- Rising public transport companies and selling off-peak journey by way of differential charges.
- Main welding and gas-cutting operations. Minor welding actions for MEP (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) works are to be, nevertheless, permitted.
- Portray, sharpening and varnishing works and so forth. Cement, Plaster / different coatings, apart from minor indoor repairs/ upkeep. Reducing/grinding and fixing of tiles, stones and different flooring supplies, apart from minor indoor repairs/ upkeep. Waterproofing work (Excluding Chemical waterproofing).
- Motion of autos carrying building supplies on unpaved roads. Lengthy-term publicity to “extreme” AQI can have an effect on even wholesome folks and significantly influence these with current ailments. Docs have cautioned folks to remain indoors as a lot as doable as air air pollution impacts bodily and psychological well-being and might trigger well being issues starting from respiratory points to cardiovascular.
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“We’ve been witnessing a number of gastrointestinal and metabolic circumstances resulting from air air pollution,” Dr. Sukrit Singh Sethi, Marketing consultant – Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Liver Transplantation, Narayana Hospital, Gurugram advised information company IANS.
“The dangerous particles and gases in polluted air, when inhaled, can result in systemic irritation and oxidative stress, which disturb intestine well being and influence the microbiome — the gathering of trillions of micro organism in our intestines that play a important function in digestion, immunity, and total well being,” Dr Sethi stated.
The well being consultants suggest limiting outside actions throughout peak air pollution instances, sometimes within the early morning and night; and utilizing masks, particularly in extremely polluted environments.
READ | Construction Halted, Buses Restricted: Stricter Anti-Pollution Measures In Delhi