New Delhi choked by toxic haze as air quality turns 'severe'

19:03, November 05, 2019

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  Air continues to be "severely" polluted in Delhi

  NEW DELHI, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Air pollution levels continued to be in the "severe plus" category in many parts of the Indian capital on Sunday, though early morning showers gave people the hope of some respite.The India Gate monument engulfed in smog at Rajpath, on November 2, 2019 in New Delhi. (Photo: VCG)According to the latest figures, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 999 at several places. The acceptable AQI level is below 200.Following the dangerous levels of air pollution, the Delhi government on Sunday issued a health advisory to help people fight the severe air pollution level plaguing the national capital for the past few days.Schools in the Indian capital and adjoining cities of Gurugram and Faridabad (both falling in neighbouring state of Haryana) have been shut for Monday and Tuesday on account of high air pollution levels.Calm winds since Saturday evening supposedly led to accumulation of pollutants in the air. The major source of pollutants was the burning of stubble (crops residue) by farmers in adjoining states of Haryana and Punjab.Due to the poor visibility in Delhi, as many as 37 flights were diverted from landing at the Delhi airport between 9:00 to 13:00 hours.At 11:00 hours the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded 483, which comes under the "severe" category.In view of the poor air quality, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) issued face-masks to its personnel deployed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi Metro, Government Building Security (GBS), Special Service Group (SSG), besides other units.The N-95 anti-pollution masks had been procured and issued to the personnel. The personnel will wear the mask till air quality improves, said media reports quoting a CISF statement.According to latest reports, at 17:25 hours, major pollutants PM 2.5 & PM 10 were recorded at 500, which is categorised in the "severe" category, in Lodhi Road area.Meanwhile, Chief Minister ...

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  Mothers-to-be fear for their unborn in smog-choked Delhi

  Rates of underweight babies as well as premature births are rising in cities with high levels of pollution, according to an obstetrician at Delhis Sitaram Bhartia hospital. (Photo: AFP)Heavily pregnant Rachel Gokavi spends most days shut away in her New Delhi home, desperate to shield her unborn child from the toxic air blamed for soaring miscarriage rates and infant deaths.At a recent pre-natal class in the Indian capital, Gokavi and other expectant mothers shared their feelings of helplessness and anger at having to breathe poisonous air day in and out."I always keep the balcony door closed and dont go out as much. I fear there could be breathing issues when the baby is born," Gokavi, 26, told AFP.Like Gokavi, other anxious mothers-to-be listened to tips and tricks on coping with the smog that is so bad that Delhis chief minister recently likened the city to a "gas chamber"."Dont go out for morning walks. Try and go in the afternoon when the sun is out," was all the instructor could advise the women, who listened intently with furrowed brows.With no respite from the pollution in sight, doctors too have little choice but just to recommend face masks and expensive air purifiers at home -- if they can afford them, which many cannot.India is home to 14 of the worlds 15 most polluted cities, according to the World Health Organization.Every winter smoke from farmers fires combine with industrial and vehicle emissions to turn towns and cities across northern India into smog-blanketed hellholes.This toxic cocktail cuts short the lives of one million people in India every year, according to government research published in June.The same report blamed air pollution for killing more than 100,000 under-fives every year.Doctors say kids breathe the noxious air twice as fast as adults because of their smaller lungs, causing respiratory problems and even impairing brain development.There is evidence to suggest that adol...

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  Indian capital Delhi gasps under choking smog

  India Gate in New Delhi is pictured through a choking smog that has blanketed the capital. (Photo: AFP)Indias capital New Delhi was enveloped in heavy, toxic smog Sunday -- the worst levels in recent years -- with flights diverted or delayed as politicians blamed each other for failing to tackle the crisis.Every winter, the megacity of 20 million people is blanketed by a poisonous smog of car fumes, industrial emissions, and smoke from stubble burning at farms in neighbouring states.Concentrations of particles measuring less than 2.5 microns hit the highest level of this season, exacerbated by light rains late Saturday, Indias state-run System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said.The reading for pollutants in the atmosphere hit 810 micrograms per cubic metre Sunday morning, in the "hazardous" zone according to the US embassy in Delhi, which independently monitors pollution levels.The recommended World Health Organisation safe daily maximum is 25."Pollution has reached unbearable levels," Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted Sunday.Locals complained of sore eyes and throats, with some residents wearing masks to protect themselves.Visibility was so poor major carriers Air India and Vistara said Sunday flights were being delayed or diverted to and from Delhis airports.Some cricket players and coaches have also been training in masks ahead of the Twenty20 international between Bangladesh and India later Sunday.The shocking conditions sparked a blame game between state and federal politicians over who was responsible for the conditions, which authorities said Friday had reached "emergency" levels.In a tweet last week, Kejriwal called on the state governments of neighbouring Punjab and Haryana to take action."Delhi has turned into a gas chamber due to smoke from crop burning in neighbouring states," he tweeted.Federal Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar accused Kejriwal of politicisi...