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Toxic air quality and falling temperatures have worsened the situation for Delhi residents.
Pollution in Delhi has once again reached dangerous levels, with an expert warning that India's toxic air will have a bigger impact on public health than the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday, air quality was 35 times the safe limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO), leaving residents complaining of breathing problems, as well as itchy eyes and throats.
Authorities have urged the population, especially children and the elderly, to stay indoors as much as possible, while doctors recommend wearing a mask.
But Frank Hammes, chief executive of aviation technology company IQAir, warns that this is only a short-term measure and more needs to be done.
“Alarming levels of air pollution constitute a public health pandemic,” he told the BBC, explaining the impact of toxic air on everything from mortality to IQ levels.
“This is going to have a much bigger impact on public health than Covid-19.”
Every winter, Delhi and neighboring states face high pollution due to low wind speed, vehicular emissions and burning of crop residues and firewood.
According to IQAir, a Swiss air quality index, pollution in parts of Delhi exceeded the 550 mark on Wednesday morning, even far exceeding the “dangerous” level of 300.
London, by comparison, had a level of 26 on Wednesday morning.
The air quality index (AQI) measures the level of tiny particles in the air, also known as PM 2.5 – which Mr Hammes says are “the most dangerous pollutant” and the “sole determinant” for calculating pollution levels.
“It causes difficulty breathing, asthma attacks, heart and lung problems that send people rushing to the emergency room,” he said.
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Many people burn firewood to keep warm during the winter, but this practice contributes to worsening pollution.
The Delhi government reintroduced strict pollution control measures on Tuesday, less than two weeks after the country's top court allowed them to be relaxed.
According to the restrictions, which fall under the fourth stage of the Gradual Response Action Plan (Grap), most schools have moved to hybrid mode, all construction and demolition activities are prohibited, while the entry of trucks and heavy vehicles, except those transporting essential goods, is prohibited. , was banned.
Manish Adhikari, a resident, told news agency ANI that it has now become difficult to survive winter in Delhi with ever-increasing pollution.
Another resident, Bhagat Singh, also expressed his frustration.
“Pollution has become an incurable disease, especially in Delhi. There is no solution,” he said.
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