Delhi Pollution Crosses All Levels
The National Capital of India is shrouded in the smog of danger and threat after a sharp rise in pollution level has been observed in last 15 days, choking the life of Delhiites. The Pandemic crisis has also aggravated and the covid 19 daily case count has also been increasing at an alarming rate. Unhealthy air has become a major source of irritant and respiratory illness prevailing in almost every house of Delhi including nausea, cough, severe headaches and fever. Hospitals are reporting a hike in Covid 19 cases and rapid rise in breathing problems among patients.
A significant drop had been observed last month in Covid cases and a rapid rise in recovery rates was acknowledged. The pollution and impenetrable smog is having an adverse effect on all the positive results obtained so far and has been detrimental in controlling the Corona infections. A spike of 7830 new cases in Delhi was recorded this Tuesday which is the highest rise since last month. It seems the pollution issue which is usual at this time of the year in national capital, is proving to be more harmful and fatal this year because of the ongoing pandemic.
The most alarming issue is being pushed under the carpet of oblivion by 20 million citizens due to their inadvertent and incautious behaviour. The air wrapping Delhi has become hazardous and poisonous to breathe. The vision is completely lost due to thick smog and the skyline is blurred. Doctors predicted that this could further weaken people's immunity and make them more vulnerable to attack by the viruses. Air Quality Index (AQI) monitoring stations have been recording a ghast increment of 490 from the last six days which rose to all time worse of 724 this tuesday. An AQI score between 0 to 50 is considered under normalcy level by WHO of which we are far ahead.
Advisories are being issued, requesting people from crossing the thresholds of their houses unnecessarily. They are advised to remain inside their homes and move out only during emergencies. Red alert lights have been blazing and powerful air purifiers are under operation. It will take some time to lower down the appalling pollution onto some tolerable levels.Car emissions, burning waste and firecrackers, construction dust and burning of farm stubble in neighbouring states are probable reasons for this terrible misery. Moreover, the falling temperature and lack of wind to disperse pollutants are making it obnoxious. Neither the Delhi Government nor Central Government has declared any indication or announcement over rising AQI and worsened the situation, warning people of non negotiable repercussions.
Covid cases are spiralling upwards with no provision made to regulate the issues of shortage of beds, causing unbearable losses to family members and repetition of contemptuous stories of early days of lockdown. This came as a shock to both residents and the government. It is pretty evident that the government is not ready for such an emergency. With Diwali around the corner, environmental activists are predicting another wave of covid cases directly linked to air pollution.
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