Will Delhi-NCR see relief from pollution? It's been a month since Diwali firecrackers ended

Will Delhi-NCR See Relief From Pollution: The air quality in Delhi and NCR remained very poor this morning. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's average AQI ranged from 386 in the morning to above 500 (hazardous levels) in many places. In some areas like Anand Vihar, Rohini, Nehru Nagar, and Bawana, the AQI is between 400 and 500, which falls in the "severe" category. People are complaining of breathing difficulties, eye irritation, and headaches.

 Stubble burning, vehicles, and dust are the main causes. Relief is awaited for strong winds or rain.

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The question is: it's been a full month since Diwali firecrackers ended, yet why isn't the pollution decreasing? Are firecrackers the only culprit?

Doctor's Warning: It's Now Deadly

Dr. Anant Mohan, Head of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders at AIIMS Delhi, issued a serious warning. He said that the pollution here has become absolutely severe and life-threatening. This situation has persisted for the last ten years. Every time we try to do something, we don't see much real change on the ground.

He said that the responsible agencies should take very strict measures in time. Now, not only respiratory diseases are occurring, other organs are also being affected. The condition of many patients becomes life-threatening. The number of patients in both outpatient and emergency care has clearly increased. Many people have to be put on ventilators.

Stubble Burning

Farmers in Punjab and Haryana burn the stubble left after harvesting their crops. This creates a lot of smoke, which is carried by the wind into Delhi. This year, stubble burning incidents are lower than last year, but they still contribute 15-30% of the pollution. The smoke contains very fine particles called PM2.5, which enter the lungs.

Local Sources within Delhi

Smoke from cars, trucks, and buses (about 20-30% of the total).

Dust from construction sites.

Factories and diesel generators.

Cooking or heating by burning wood or coal in poor areas.

All of these contribute to daily pollution. They become trapped in the winter.

What is the government doing?

GRAP-3 rules are in effect: old vehicles are banned, construction work is halted, and schools are conducting hybrid classes.

Roads are being watered and anti-smog guns are being used.

But experts say that for long-term relief, it's essential to convert vehicles to electric vehicles, provide stubble burning machines, and clean up factories.

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What should you do to stay healthy?

Go out less, especially in the morning and evening.

Wear an N95 mask.

Run an air purifier at home and keep the windows closed.

Take special care of children and the elderly.

Exercise indoors.

Summary

Delhi's pollution has now become a national emergency. Doctors' warning is clear: if we don't wake up now, it will be too late. Everyone must work together to take long-term measures so that future generations can breathe clean air.