Air pollution reaches hazardous levels in 50 cities across the country before Diwali

Air quality has reached extremely hazardous levels in 50 cities across the country ahead of the Diwali festival. According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, data as of 9.30 pm on Saturday shows that the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at over 700 in cities such as Bathinda, Mathura and Rohtak. Additionally, in major cities like Delhi, Varanasi, Saharsa and Kanpur, the AQI has crossed the 500 mark, indicating a severe pollution situation.

Visibility has decreased significantly due to pollution and smog. In New Delhi, owing to poor air quality, only a portion of the Rashtrapati Bhavan was visible, while the rest of the area was shrouded in smog. In Ajmer, Rajasthan, a layer of smog and haze was seen covering the sky in the morning. Visibility remained low in Patna, Bihar, due to smog as well. This low visibility is also affecting the speed of trains, as seen with the Vande Bharat Express running on the Jammu-Katra-Srinagar route, which was passing through the outskirts of Jammu amidst low visibility.

According to the Meteorological Department, the weather will remain clear and dry across 70% of the country on Sunday, the day of Diwali. There is no possibility of rain in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. However, a rain alert has been issued for Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in South India. Due to the activation of a Western Disturbance, a major change in weather will be observed in the hilly regions from November 10. Rain and snowfall are likely in Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, which will increase the cold in other parts of the country and may lead to a drop in temperature.

Amidst rising pollution, doctors have advised citizens to remain cautious. Dr. Randeep Guleria, former director of AIIMS, stated that people who are already suffering from any illness should avoid going out during the morning and late evening, as the level of pollution near the ground surface increases during winter. Polluted air can pose a serious health risk, especially for children and the sick.

Explaining the severity of pollution, Mumbai-based ENT surgeon Dr. Varun Dave said that breathing air with an AQI around 250 is equivalent to smoking 10 to 15 cigarettes a day. Along with this, doctors have advised people to exercise restraint while eating sweets and take necessary precautionary measures to protect themselves from increasing pollution. People should ensure protection against pollution when stepping outdoors.