Health and Environmental Experts Sound Alarm Over Thick Toxic Smog in Delhi After Diwali

The excessive use of firecrackers during Diwali, the festival of lights, and stubble burning across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh have created thick toxic smog in India's capital over the last two days. Several people in the area have been experiencing itchy throats, watery eyes, and breathing problems as a result.

Health and environment experts have taken to social media to warn people about air pollution in Delhi as scores of people report a range of health issues in the wake of Diwali.

Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) on Saturday reached 533 (in the "severe" category).

With airborne particulate matter (PM) at 2.5 – which can cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases such as lung cancer – people suffering from respiratory problems have been advised to stay indoors.

"Relief is expected only from the evening of 7 November but AQI will fluctuate within the 'very poor' range," the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said.

To reduce the air pollution, the authorities have been spraying water on roads with the help of anti-smog water tanks.

As an emergency measure, we've started spraying water on roads with the help of anti-smog water tanks to reduce the air pollution. We've also banned 92 construction sites for violating norms: Delhi Environment Minister, Gopal Rai pic.twitter.com/sWz78LKoqe

— ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2021

Dr. Arun Mohanty, professor of cardiology at Sir Gangaram Hospital in Delhi, told ANI that the toxic smog is also dangerous for people who have recently recovered from COVID.

This is the season of respiratory syncytial virus, so children who are getting respiratory tract infections because of pollution, are facing more respiratory problems. There is also irritation in the eyes: Dr Dhiren Gupta, Paediatrics dept, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi

— ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2021

Environmentalist Vimlendu Jha said that air pollution kills 1.5 million people every year in India, and every third child in Delhi suffers from asthma due to toxic air.

Air pollution kills 15 lakh people every year. A report pointed out that people living in Delhi-NCR loses 9.5 yrs of their lives because of air pollution. Lung Care Foundation says every 3rd child has asthma due to air pollution: Vimlendu Jha, Environmentalist pic.twitter.com/9O1p95bvu6

— ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2021

Hundreds of thousands of people ignored firecracker bans across India during the festival, while the burning of stubble across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana has only compounded the problem.

The three states have adopted various measures in a bid to educate farmers about the harmful effects of burning stubble.

According to official data, stubble burning accounted for 36 percent of Delhi's PM 2.5 air pollution level on Friday, the highest so far this season.

Punjab: Stubble burning continues in Ludhiana; visuals from Kotla Shamaspur village pic.twitter.com/NtRSdERXaa

— ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2021

For past several yrs we've been working by making plans, with farmers' cooperation. AFL (Active Fire Locations) has decreased. We divided villages into 3 parts. Farmers were provided with agricultural equipment. We carried out awareness drives: Karam Chand, Dy Dir (agri), Kaithal pic.twitter.com/A4kqwYp0YL

— ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2021

An AQI from 0-50 is considered '"good," 51-100 – "satisfactory," 101-200 – "moderate," 201-300 – "poor," 301-400 – "very poor," and 401-500 – "severe."