The topic of the rising air pollution in Delhi is almost an annual one at this point, especially around this time of the year.
However, currently, the situation seems to be at its peak worst as citizens are seeing mostly overcast skies, toxic smog covering the environment in a thick blanket even decreasing visibility.
Schools have been shut or put on remote methods and offices and other sectors have also taken measurements considering the worsening situation.
Recently the air quality index (AQI) hit almost 100 times the limit specified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and had people actually taking a dig at how high the pollution level is.
What Are These New Names?
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor posted on his X/Twitter account about how satirical signboards were being shared online showing the new names of places in Delhi in light of the extremely high air pollution.
He wrote “Not my own creation: this is going around @whatsApp as exasperated Delhiites choke and splutter under an AQI of 462, nearly 19 times the @who safe limit of 25. As someone remarked, ‘no wonder the government has renamed the main road the Martavya Path!”
Read More: If You Have Poor Maths Skills, Blame It On Air Pollution Now
Tharoor’s post had places from Delhi renamed like
- Lutyens’ Delhi to “Pollutyens’ Delhi”
- Hauz Khas to “Haze Khas”
- Dhaula Kuan to “Dhua Kuan”
- Chandni Chowk to “Chandni Choke”
All these are puns on air pollution and attempt to put a hilarious spin on the otherwise very concerning and alarming situation of air quality in the capital.
As per reports, the AQI of Delhi hit 500, literally the highest measurement that can currently be recorded and 100 times over the limit that the World Health Organisation (WHO) considers to be healthy.
Nikhil Modi, a doctor at Apollo Hospital in Delhi was quoted by The Guardian saying “The number of patients with breathing problems has increased, with more people having coughs, colds, watery and irritated eyes, and breathing problems. People of all ages are affected by this. It is time for us to wear masks and go out only when needed.”
Rajesh Chawla, senior consultant in pulmonology and critical care at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital said “Breathing in the polluted air of Delhi is equivalent to the harmful effects of smoking approximately 10 cigarettes a day.”
With a population of around 33 million, the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)’s air quality life index for this year estimates that the people of Delhi could see a decrease of almost 11.9 years from their life span due to the air quality they’re breathing daily.
Although there was a bit of improvement in the AQI that currently stands at 394, compared to the 421 that was seen on 7th November 2023.
Over the past 10 years, Delhi-NCR’s air quality has only been dropping to alarming rates and reports claim that the reasons for this are the increase in post-harvest farm fires that happen across Punjab and Haryana along with temperature drop and still winds that further act in trapping the pollution in place.
Image Credits: Google Images
Feature image designed by Saudamini Seth
Sources: The Hindu, The Guardian, India Today
Find the blogger: @chirali_08
This post is tagged under: Delhi pollution, Delhi pollution news, Delhi pollution level, Delhi pollution, delhi aqi, who, world health organisation, shashi tharoor, shashi tharoor delhi pollution, delhi aqi news, delhi aqi who, Delhi air pollution, delhi air quality
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