Even after taking several measures to celebrate the cleanest Diwali in years, ambient pollution is making things worse for Delhi this time.
Delhi’s air deterioration is breaking new records every other day. So much so, that today the overall AQI in Delhi has plunged to 423. Both PM 2.5 and 10 are above 400 micrograms.
Today, most of the places in Delhi and NCR are experiencing pollution in ‘severe’ category.
One major reason behind this pollution is being traced back to voluntarily fed farm fires, a practice in Punjab and Haryana also called ‘Stubble Burning’.
According to the data available with government, Punjab and Haryana have recorded an increase of at least 2,400 farm fires, till October 27.
Delhi government said in a statement that the latest NASA images show a drastic spurt in crop residue burning in the neighboring states.
Take a look at the images rolled out by NASA for stubble burning since the month’s start-
As presently, Northwest winds are blowing over the region, bringing along smoke from the farms of Punjab and Haryana all the way to Delhi.
The AQI takes into account five chief pollutants, including the PM 10 and PM 2.5. The higher the AQI value, the greater the health concern.
Image Credits – India Today
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