The people of Delhi NCR woke up from their slumber, to find that their surrounding has been enveloped in thick fog which made breathing a bit difficult when people stepped out of their homes for morning walks etc.

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Pollution level is alarming in Delhi, but today morning was different as pollution levels went up. Many schools in Delhi/NCR have also issued an advisory to the parents to send their children to school wearing masks. AT least 12 trains and 20 flights were also delayed due to low visibility.

At places like RK Puram, Anand Vihar, Punjabi Bagh and Mandir Marg, the levels of PM2.5 are at 999 microgrammes per cu (mg/cu), 704 (mg/cu), 999 (mg/cu), and 658 (mg/cu), respectively against the prescribed level of 60 (mg/cu). According to the experts, the air quality is far worse than what’s visible as the meters which measure air quality have stretched to their extreme limits and they don’t monitor PM2.5 beyond 999 mg/cu.

aqicn.org (The data was collected at 11 am)

The average AQI was a staggering 411 mg/cu at 9 am in Delhi NCR and calling it hazardous would be an understatement.

IMA writes to Delhi Govt to cancel Delhi Half Marathon

Citing the alarming levels of pollution, Indian Medical Association (IMA) has written to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to cancel the Delhi Half Marathon scheduled to take place in the capital on November 19.

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The event’s sponsor Bharti Airtel has also softly threatened to pull out of the event from next year onward unless adequate steps are being taken to ensure pollution levels remain in check.

“Air pollution poses serious health risks and it is important that these concerns are addressed urgently and appropriately by the authorities for Airtel to continue associating with the event next year and beyond,” read Airtel’s statement.

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The government, as well as the judiciary, have taken cognizance of the situation and a slew of steps have been taken lately. If odd-even, regardless whether it was a success or not, was one big initiative taken by the Delhi government last year, judiciary pitched on this year with Supreme Court banning the sale of crackers in Delhi for Diwali on October 9 and Punjab and Haryana High Court Banning stubble burning in the beginning of October.

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Though cracker ban was implemented well this resulted in roughly 40 percent emission drop from fireworks in comparison to Diwali in 2016. Yet the Delhi NCR woke up on October 20 while breathing in extremely hazardous air.

Air Quality hit emergency level post-Diwali

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Despite the ban on firecrackers, the PM2.5 during Diwali and the morning after (12 pm - 12 am), October 19-20) was a staggering 397 microgramme per cubic metre (mg /cu) which was 6.6 times higher than the prescribed standards. It was twice the levels of pre-Diwali day when the 24-hour average was 184 microgramme per cu. But this Diwali was less hazardous than the last one

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According to the data analysed by Centre for Science and Energy (CSE) by comparing four stations (Mandir Marg, Punjabi Bagh, Anand Vihar and R K Puram), there was a reduction of 29.5 per cent in 24-hour average PM2.5 levels (12 am - 12 pm) this year. The average PM2.5 concentration in these four stations was 325 microgramme per cu in 2016 to 229 microgramme per cu this year.

Blame stubble burning but is it the only reason behind

Though Punjab and Haryana High Court had banned the stubble burning in the two states and the respective state governments even tried to ensure that no stubble burning takes places with giving any option to farmers. But despite that Delhi’s air quality has touched new low and now Delhi’s air is highly dangerous to breathe in.

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Indian Meteorological Department had warned a couple of days back that Delhi is likely to witness dense fog as easterly winds, blowing from Uttar Pradesh, will introduce moisture into the city's air over the next few days, and fog will start building from October 29.

"As a result, pollutants having local sources (vehicular combustion, road dust, smoke from garbage-burning) shall remain at the ground level for longer hours. Their ground level concentration will be building up," Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) member secretary A Sudhakar had told ET.

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"Northwesterly or westerly winds, which are generally dry but laden with smoke, are not entering the capital, thus preventing the influx of air-borne residue of stubble-burning. That way it is good but easterly winds will bring a lot of moisture, which will trap local pollutants," he added indicating that more than stubble burning, Delhi’s indigenous pollutants like vehicles etc are more responsible for the air quality touching new nadir every day.