The air quality in Delhi has sinked to “very poor” level very early this year, affecting visibility and causing inconvenience to residents.
Not just Delhi where the air quality index has been graded “dark maroon” (between very poor and severe) on Air Quality Index (AQI), areas under the National Capital Region (NCR) are also battling noxious air quality.
With 339 micrograms per cubic metre, Ghaziabad is on top in AQI with Noida not far behind at 314. Delhi’s air quality has been recorded 312 micrograms per cubic metre on the AQI scale.
Environmentalists attributed spike in pollutant values to surface winds. “The dominant factor for the increase at this stage is changing weather conditions rather than external intrusion,” they said.
They said stubble burning activities in Haryana, Punjab and nearby border regions has shown an increasing trend over the last 48 hours. “This is for the first time when crop fire has been noticed in western
Uttar Pradesh,” said the Environmentalists.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has urged people not to use fire crackers on Diwali.
The Center-run pollution monitoring agency SAFAR on Wednesday issued health advisory and asked people to keep windows and doors of their rooms shut to avoid exposure.
“Avoid outdoor activities early morning and after sunset. Avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Go for a short walk instead of a jog and take more breaks. Stop any activity if you experience any unusual coughing, chest discomfort, wheezing, breathing difficulty, or fatigue,” said the SAFAR.
“Avoid burning of wood, candles or incense. Keep the room clean — do not vacuum. Do wet mopping to reduce dust. Masks known as N-95 or P-100 respirators may only help if you go out,” said the SAFAR.