Pollution levels increase to alarming levels in Delhi and northern cities

Surprisingly decrease in Hyderabad city

The Northern cities of Delhi, Agra, Ahmedabad, Varanasi reached peak levels after the Deepavali festival. The bursting of crackers causes a nearly 8-fold increase in the already high pollution levels.

An Air Quality Index (AQI) of 100 is the limit for good air quality. This peaked to 445 for Delhi and 385 for Ahmedabad.

In contrast the levels of particulate matter(PM) decreased in Hyderabad, compared to last year’s levels. The level also depends on winds, their direction and rain and it luckily rained in Hyderabad. But the AQI value at the US Consulate in Begumpet told a different story. On 30^th October( the day of festival) it was 440 with a hazardous warning sign.

The levels of noise pollution were equally hazardous. The elderly population and the patients suffering from lung and heart ailments have started to fear Deepavali along with parents due to the steep increase in eye injuries in children around this time.

What is urgently required is health education which must be done at school level for a change in the way we celebrate Deepavali.