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Pollution levels still severe in Delhi

Published

6 years ago

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New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) The air quality of Delhi-NCR showed slight improvement on Saturday but the residents continued breathing toxins as the pollution levels remained at ‘severe’ for the fifth day in a row.

As per the data collected from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 3 p.m. was 423 (on a scale of 0 to 500) while the PM2.5 (particles with diameter less than 2.5) hovered around 422 units, considered “severe”.

The average AQI in Delhi-NCR combined was 425 with PM2.5 recorded at 424 units. Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh was the most polluted region in NCR by noon with its AQI calculated at 484 while its PM2.5 reached a dangerous 869 units — 34 times the safe limit.

“There has been some improvement. We are hoping it would get better tomorrow (Sunday). There are reasons behind this slight improvement — the biggest being no movement of trucks within Delhi. We are continuously monitoring the situation and will take decisions accordingly,” Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) chairperson Bhure Lal told IANS.

He added that lack of sufficient public transport continues to be a serious problem while combating air pollution.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) initiative of the government, five out of its 10 monitoring stations across Delhi-NCR have recorded some improvement though the overall air quality was still severe.

SAFAR, however, predicts improvement in the air quality of Delhi-NCR from “severe” to “very poor” on Sunday.

Earlier, India Meteorological Department (IMD) also forecast improvement in the air quality here from Sunday onwards due to increase in the wind speed and formation of western disturbance or rainy situation in the neighbouring states.

According to CPCB’s continuous monitoring of the emergency situation — that requires PM2.5 to remain above 300 units or PM10 to remain above 500 units for 48 hours — Delhi at 11 a.m. on Saturday saw drop in particle pollution for an hour.

However, PM2.5 that dipped to 298 and 296 units between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., again went up beyond 300 units towards the afternoon.

–IANS
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Corona

Covid toll in Karnataka is a worrying sign for state government

Published

2 years ago

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May 4, 2022

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Even though Karnataka recorded the lowest number of Covid deaths in April since the virus struck first in 2020, the state is recording a rise in the positivity rate (1.50 per cent). Five people died from the Covid infections in April as per the statistics released by the state health department. In March, the positivity rate stood around 0.53 per cent. In the first week of April it came down to 0.38 per cent, second week registered 0.56 per cent, third week it rose to 0.79 per cent and by end of April the Covid positivity rate touched 1.19 per cent.

on an average 500 persons used to succumb everyday in the peak of Covid infection, as per the data. Health experts said that the mutated Coronavirus is losing its fierce characteristics as vaccination, better treatment facilities and awareness among the people have contributed to the lesser number of Covid deaths.

During the 4th and 6th of April two deaths were reported in Bengaluru, one in Gadag district on April 8, two deaths were reported from Belagavi and Vijayapura on April 30. The first Covid case was reported in the state in March 2020 and three Covid deaths were recorded in the month. In the following month 21 people became victims to the deadly virus, and May 2020 recorded 22 deaths. The death toll recorded everyday after May crossed three digits. However, the third wave, which started in January 2

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