‘Clean Air Is a Basic Right’: Twitter Reacts as Smog Engulfs Delhi

Netizens react after Delhi’s pollution levels entered the “severe category” of the AQI.

(Photo: AP)

Days after Diwali celebrations, there seems to be no respite from Delhi's air quality as the pollution levels in the region entered the "severe plus" category on Friday, 1 November.

On the same day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter and expressed concerns over the matter saying, "Delhi has turned into a gas chamber due to smoke from crop burning in neighbouring states."

According to official data cited by PTI, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi at 1 pm on Friday was recorded at 480. An AQI between 51-100 is considered "satisfactory”.

With this, social media was abuzz with blaming the government for lack of policies against pollution control in the national capital. Here's how they reacted:

(Catch all the updates on Delhi’s air quality levels here)

‘Eyes Are Burning, Breathing is Difficult’

‘Don’t Only Blame the Crackers’: Twitter A Day After Diwali

A day after Diwali, on 28 October, several users took to Twitter to question whether bursting crackers was solely to be blamed for Delhi’s poor air quality. Several areas on Monday had recorded an AQI level of 999.

Meanwhile, a Supreme Court-mandated panel on Friday, 1 November, declared a public health emergency in Delhi-NCR, and announced a ban on all construction activity till 5 November. Schools were also declared shut till 5 November in the wake of "severe" pollution in the national capital.