Gasping for Air: 5 Days After Diwali, Delhi is a Gas Chamber

Gasping for Air: 5 Days After Diwali, Delhi is a Gas Chamber

AQI Index Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru. Delhi and Chennai struggle to breathe.

It’s been 5 days since Diwali, but the heavy smog that settled in a day after, refuses to rise. The sun struggled to break through on yet another day in Delhi on 1st November with most places breathing air that ranged from 450 to 800 on the AQI index at 10 am.

Parts of Chennai also recorded unusually high pollution with levels near the US consulate well over 300.

Mumbai breathed easy and Bengaluru and Hyderabad air quality is unhealthy for sensitive people.

On November 1st, the Delhi Chief Minister started a mask distribution drive with an aim to distribute 50 lakh masks today.

Pollution Across Metros in India Today:

Here’s what the numbers mean. The World Health Organisation identifies pollution levels are ranging from:

• 0 - 50: Good. Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
• 51-100: Satisfactory. Air quality is acceptable; may be a moderate health concern for sensitive people.
• 101-200: Moderate. Sensitive groups (with lung, heart diseases) may experience health issues.
• 201-300: Poor. Everyone may begirn to experience health issues like respiratory problems.
• 301-400: Very Poor. Health warnings of emergency conditions. Entire population is likely to be affected.
• 401-500: Severe. Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health issues.

If you wish to check the air quality index of your city, click on this link: https://www.thequint.com/quintlab/widgets/air-quality-index/

(FIT is launching its #PollutionKaSolution campaign. Join us by becoming an anti-air pollution warrior. Send in your questions, your stories of how to tackle air pollution and your ideas to [e-mail])