As Delhi faces a dangerous spike in air pollution, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has urged the Delhi government to close all schools up to Class 5. The demand comes in response to the alarming air quality, leading the party to criticize the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for failing to manage pollution in the capital.
Virendra Sachdeva, Delhi BJP president, condemned the AAP government, claiming it had turned Delhi into a “gas chamber.” He pointed to the hazardous conditions created by high concentrations of particulate matter, particularly PM2.5 exceeding 400, and PM10 levels over 1,000. Sachdeva also raised concerns over the lack of government clinics to address the health issues from such severe air quality.
Delhi’s air quality has reached a critical level, with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recording an air quality index (AQI) of 366 at 9 a.m. Wednesday, categorized as “very poor.” The city has surpassed Lahore as the world’s most polluted city, according to real-time data from Swiss group IQAir, with AQI levels above 1,000, in the “hazardous” category. However, India’s pollution authority reported a slightly lower AQI of around 350.
Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to air pollution, Sachdeva added, pointing out the lack of government clinics providing essential treatments to mitigate these dangers.
The ongoing pollution crisis has made it hard for Delhi residents to breathe, especially children and the elderly, who are more vulnerable to air pollution. On Wednesday morning, visibility dropped to 100 meters in some areas due to fog and smog.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a slight temperature drop, exacerbating the issue, as cold air traps dust, emissions, and smoke from illegal farm fires in Punjab and Haryana.
Winter weather worsens Delhi’s pollution, trapping dust and emissions. Sachdeva has called for immediate steps to curb pollution and protect public health, urging the Delhi government to implement stricter regulations to combat the city’s air quality crisis.
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