Bangkok Had Shut Schools After AQI Touched 170, While In Delhi, Nobody Cares Even At 412-Mark
The pollution levels in Delhi continues to affect us badly. Air Quality Index AQI in the national capital is hovering around the 412-mark. Despite repeated rise in the pollution levels schools remain open and no concrete action has been taken so far.
It has been four days since we all celebrated Diwali but the pollution levels in Delhi continues to affect us badly. Breathing seems to have become a luxury in the national capital. Sights of school children, office-goers wearing masks is the new norm daily and the air pollution levels refuses to come down. At present, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital is hovering around the 412-mark.
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Putting that into perspective, the normal range is between 0-50 and Delhi's AQI index stands between 301-400 which falls under 'very poor' category. Despite repeated rise in the pollution levels, schools remain open and no concrete action has been taken so far.
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Children, senior citizens are the most prone to breathing ailments but it seems the government is paying no heed to this fact. In contrast, earlier this year in February, choking air pollution in the Thai capital of Bangkok had prompted authorities to shut schools for a week until normal levels of pollution was reached.
The situation since then in Bangkok has improved drastically but in Delhi, it seems to worsen during this time of the year in particular.
Despite a spike in the pollution levels, marathons are being organised in the capital and even India-Bangladesh T20I match will be played coming Sunday.
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly on Thursday confirmed that the T20I match between India and Bangladesh in Delhi will go ahead as planned.
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Such activities not only harms those participating in it but also those who come to watch it.
The Delhi government is taking steps to curb the air pollution by bringing in the Odd-Even scheme from November 4-15 and even distributing free anti-pollution masks but more needs to be done. Stubble burning/farm fires from neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana are only intensifying the air pollution levels in the city.
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The health of Delhi residents is also taking a tumble. According to doctors, there is about 30 per cent surge in respiratory cases in OPD post festive season and that is definitely not a good sign.