Not just the national capital Delhi and the NCR region, but cities in Uttar Pradesh are also reeling under toxic air pollution.?
A thick layer of smog has engulfed western cities of Uttar Pradesh, as complaints about respiratory issues rise.
Out of top five most polluted cities in the country, three were from Uttar Pradesh.?
Agra recorded the worst Air Quality Index (AQI) at an alarming 458. The amount of carbon monoxide in the air was recorded at 50 times more than that of the normal level.
The three districts in the top five most polluted cities list include Agra, Ghaziabad and Greater Noida.
The primary reason behind the staggering rise in air pollution in Uttar Pradesh is said to be stubble burning.
An estimate suggests that 29 per cent of the air pollution is due to the smoke emanating from stubble burning.
Air pollution continues to be in the ¡®severe¡¯ category in Delhi.?
Severe air pollution levels affect ¡®healthy people¡¯ and ¡®seriously impacts¡¯ those with existing diseases, as per the CPCB.
The capital¡¯s air quality is expected to remain in the same category on Monday and Tuesday and no quick recovery is expected unless there is a ¡®drastic reduction¡¯ in stubble burning fire counts in neighbouring States, as per government-run monitoring agency System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).