The Delhi Government Health Department has issued a public advisory on pollution on Saturday, saying the people of the national Capital must avoid morning walks and other physical exercises in view of the health emergency.
The air quality index (AQI) across Delhi remains in the "poor" category, a day after rain in the national Capital and surrounding areas washed away the toxic haze, bringing some relief to residents and improving air quality marginally. In Anand Vihar, one of the national Capital's pollution hotspots, the AQI was recorded at 282, while it was 220 at RK Puram.
Punjabi Bagh registered an AQI of 236, and in ITO, it was at 263 on Saturday. The Delhi government is anticipating severe AQI in the national capital after Diwali.
The advisory asked people not to smoke tobacco products. It also asked the masses to avoid burning mosquito-repellent coils and avoid burning wood, leaves, waste and crop residues. The advisory also tells people to wash their eyes with running water, have regular gargles with lukewarm water, and eat a healthy and balanced diet, including fruits and vegetables.
The advisory has also underlined that pregnant women, patients with underlying medical conditions, children and the elderly population should be more cautious and avoid exposure to air pollution.
However, intermittent rains on Thursday night and Friday brought major relief from the hazardous air lingering over the national capital for two weeks. It also prompted the Delhi government to postpone the implementation of the odd-even car rationing scheme.
As the AQI usually deteriorates around and immediately after Diwali, the public health advisory issued by the Directorate of Health Services of the Delhi government has asked people to not burn firecrackers.
"Avoid places with high air pollution like slow and heavy traffic roads, areas near polluting industries, construction/demolition sites, etc. Avoid outdoor morning and late evening walks, jog, run, physical exercise, specifically during days with severe AQI," the advisory reads.
"Consult a doctor in case of breathlessness, giddiness, cough, chest discomfort or pain, irritation in eyes (red or watery), use public transport or car pools, practice wet mopping instead of sweeping, inside homes and workplaces," the advisory further reads.
Patients with underlying medical conditions (particularly chronic pulmonary and cardiovascular problems), pregnant women, children, and elderly persons should remain more careful and avoid exposure to air pollution, it adds.
Data from the Consortium for Research on Agrosystem Monitoring and Modelling from Space (CREAMS) run by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) revealed Punjab on Saturday reported 104 farm fires, taking the total number of stubble-burning incidents to 23,730 while air quality indices in Haryana and the border state were in 'satisfactory' and 'moderate' categories.
The fresh figure of farm fires in Punjab was much lower than what the state was witnessing a few days ago. Out of 105 stubble-burning incidents reported on Saturday, crop residue burning was seen in only 10 districts in Punjab. Sangrur district topped with 43 cases, followed by 22 in Mansa, 13 in Fazilka, eight in Fatehgarh Sahib, four each in Ludhiana and Muktsar, three each in Malerkotla, Patiala and Bathinda and one in Ferozepur.