Delhites complain itchy eyes, breathing problems as AQI remains in 'severe' category
Delhi/IBNS: Two days after Diwali, Delhi's hospitals are witnessing a rise in the number of patients coming in with respiratory problems and burning eyes as AQI level continues to remain in the ‘severe’ category, media reports said.
Bursting of firecrackers along with a spike in stubble burning in the neighbouring states, has worsened the situation this year, media reports said, citing experts.
"Covid affects lungs, air pollution causes inflammation, therefore lungs get doubly stressed out. This leads to more severe disease, causing higher hospital admissions and deaths," AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria was quoted as saying by NDTV.
The Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) data recorded the overall air quality index (AQI) at 456.
"Firework emissions on the night of Diwali degraded air quality from very poor to severe," it observed.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had said the air quality over Delhi is likely to improve on Saturday but remain in 'very poor' category.
"The air quality over Delhi-NCT is likely to improve on Saturday and Sunday owing to strong winds but remain in 'very poor' category. The air quality is likely to improve further and reach the lower end of 'very poor' category on Monday," the IMD said in a bulletin.
PM2.5 to be the predominant pollutant, it said.
As per the IMD, the minimum temperature was recorded at 14.7 degree Celsius in the National Capital on Saturday.
The weather department has forecast strong surface winds during the day time and the maximum temperature is likely to settle at 28 degree Celsius.
On Sunday, the sky will remain partly cloudy with mist shallow fog in the morning and strong surface winds during the day, the IMD said.
Meanwhile, the Delhi government deployed 114 tankers to sprinkle water on roads to control dust pollution. It also sealed 92 construction sites for violating anti-pollution norms.
(With UNI inputs)
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