Thick smog blankets New Delhi - concern for health and children
Assalamu alaikum - New Delhi was covered by a heavy, toxic smog on Monday as air pollution rose to levels far above the World Health Organization’s daily guideline. The capital and its huge metro area, home to over 30 million people, often rank among the world’s most polluted cities each winter, when cool air traps pollutants near the ground. Emissions from crop burning, factories and busy traffic build up, and this year pollution was worsened by days of fireworks for Diwali celebrations.
Authorities have tried to curb fireworks in the past and this month allowed the use of lower-polluting “green firecrackers,” but such rules have not always been followed. In parts of the city, PM2.5 - tiny particles that can enter the bloodstream and raise cancer and respiratory risks - reached 248 micrograms per cubic meter, according to monitoring groups. Officials expect air quality could get worse in the next few days.
To tackle the crisis, the government’s air commission has ordered measures like ensuring uninterrupted power so people rely less on diesel generators. City leaders also announced they will try cloud seeding by aeroplanes for the first time over Delhi this month, releasing salts or chemicals into clouds to try to bring rain and clear the air. The environment minister said the preparations and pilot training for cloud seeding are complete.
Studies have linked millions of deaths in India over recent years to air pollution, and agencies warn that polluted air makes children especially vulnerable to serious respiratory infections. Please keep your family’s health in mind - consider limiting outdoor activity, using masks when needed, and making dua for safety and relief.
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