• Source:JND
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Delhi Air Pollution:  A thick blanket of dark, grey haze engulfed the national capital and its surrounding areas on Wednesday. The Air Quality Index of the city remained in the 'severe' zone for a third straight day today. Air quality across Delhi continues to be in the 'Severe' category as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The AQI in Anand Vihar stood at 430, in RK Puram at 417, in Punjabi Bagh at 423, and in Jahangirpuri at 428.

These toxic smog blankets surrounded the city after a brief period of relief due to rains, however, fireworks with more stubble burning and vehicular emissions again rose the pollution levels in the capital.

On Tuesday, the capital's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI), recorded at 4 pm every day, stood at 397, worsening from 358 on Monday and 218 on Sunday. According to IQAir, a Swiss company that specialises in air quality monitoring, Delhi was the most polluted city in the world on Tuesday, followed by Dhaka Lahore and Mumbai.

Meanwhile, doctors at many government-run and private hospitals said the rise in cases of prolonged coughing, throat infection, eye irritation, nasal discharge and asthma exacerbation continues.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday flagged off a special water sprinkler campaign from the Delhi Secretariat. This anti-dust campaign was launched in the national campaign after Diwali revelry led to air quality deteriorating to toxic levels.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said, "We saw that during rain the dust pollution had reduced...now since the effect of rain is reducing slowly, we are increasing this campaign to sprinkle water across Delhi. From today, 70 mobile anti-smoke guns have been started for 70 assembly constituencies. It will sprinkle water across Delhi to reduce dust pollution."

Rai said that the primary causes for the escalated pollution levels in Delhi currently include firecracker bursting, stubble burning, and a lack of stringent enforcement of measures under the final stage of the Centre's air pollution control plan, known as the Graded Response Action Plan. He urged all states to collaborate in reducing the incidents of stubble burning.