The best quality of air in Delhi in this year was recorded Tuesday as incessant rains washed away pollutants from the air, said authorities.

This is the third time in the year that the quality of air was registered as good and the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 38, which is the lowest for this year, according to the Centre's System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research institute (SAFAR).

An official of Central Pollution Control Board said rains in the last few days washed away pollutants from the air which led to the quality of air improving.

Last Saturday AQI of 48 was recorded, while on July 28 AQI of 43 was recorded.

An AQI in the range of 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'.

The PM10 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 10 mm) was recorded as 'good' at 37 in Delhi-NCR and 35 in Delhi. The PM2.5 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 2.5 mm) was 19 in Delhi-NCR and 18 in Delhi, according to the CPCB data.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, as the rains washed away pollutants from the air, Yamuna river&nbsp;crossed the danger mark and is currently flowing at 205.24 metres, officials said, warning that the level is expected to further increase.

Around 11,19,430 cusecs of water was discharged from Hathani Kund Barrage till 2 PM, the officials said.

The water level is expected to further increase and an alert has been sounded by the authorities, they added.

The danger mark of the Yamuna river is 204.83 metres.

(With inputs from agencies)

The best quality of air in Delhi in this year was recorded Tuesday as incessant rains washed away pollutants from the air, said authorities. This is the third time in the year that the quality of air was registered as good and the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 38, which is the lowest for this year, according to the Centre's System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research institute (SAFAR).

The best quality of air in Delhi in this year was recorded Tuesday as incessant rains washed away pollutants from the air, said authorities. This is the third time in the year that the quality of air was registered as good and the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 38, which is the lowest for this year, according to the Centre's System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research institute (SAFAR). An official of Central Pollution Control Board said rains in the last few days washed away pollutants from the air which led to the quality of air improving. Last Saturday AQI of 48 was recorded, while on July 28 AQI of 43 was recorded. An AQI in the range of 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'. The PM10 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 10 mm) was recorded as 'good' at 37 in Delhi-NCR and 35 in Delhi. The PM2.5 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 2.5 mm) was 19 in Delhi-NCR and 18 in Delhi, according to the CPCB data. Meanwhile, as the rains washed away pollutants from the air, Yamuna river crossed the danger mark and is currently flowing at 205.24 metres, officials said, warning that the level is expected to further increase. Around 11,19,430 cusecs of water was discharged from Hathani Kund Barrage till 2 PM, the officials said. The water level is expected to further increase and an alert has been sounded by the authorities, they added. The danger mark of the Yamuna river is 204.83 metres. (With inputs from agencies)

Delhi records year's best quality of air on Tuesday: Report

According to the Central Pollution Control Board data, the air quality in the national capital today deteriorated beyond the "severe" level because of a ground-level dust storm in western India.

According to reports, the dust storm has led to an increase in coarser particles in the air.

The CPCB data showed that the PM10 (particles with a diameter less than 10mm) level was beyond "severe" at 778 in Delhi-NCR area and 824 in Delhi particularly, leading to hazy conditions and limiting visibility.

"There was a ground-level dust storm in the western part of the country that increased drastically coarser particles in the air, causing a spike in pollution levels in Delhi," noted Gufran Beig, a scientist at the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research Institute.

"Such dust storms accompanied by high-speed winds (30-40 kmph) do not last too long due to which the air quality will return to normal by this evening," Beig added.

According to the CPCB data, the air quality index at several places in Delhi crossed the 500-mark. East Delhi's Anand Vihar area recorded an AQI of 891.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'Good', 51-100 'Satisfactory', 101-200 'Moderate', 201-300 'Poor', 301-400 'Very Poor', and 401-500 'Severe'.&nbsp;

(With inputs from PTI)&nbsp;

According to the CPCB data, the air quality index at several places in Delhi crossed the 500-mark

According to the Central Pollution Control Board data, the air quality in the national capital today deteriorated beyond the "severe" level because of a ground-level dust storm in western India. According to reports, the dust storm has led to an increase in coarser particles in the air. The CPCB data showed that the PM10 (particles with a diameter less than 10mm) level was beyond "severe" at 778 in Delhi-NCR area and 824 in Delhi particularly, leading to hazy conditions and limiting visibility. "There was a ground-level dust storm in the western part of the country that increased drastically coarser particles in the air, causing a spike in pollution levels in Delhi," noted Gufran Beig, a scientist at the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research Institute. "Such dust storms accompanied by high-speed winds (30-40 kmph) do not last too long due to which the air quality will return to normal by this evening," Beig added. According to the CPCB data, the air quality index at several places in Delhi crossed the 500-mark. East Delhi's Anand Vihar area recorded an AQI of 891. An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'Good', 51-100 'Satisfactory', 101-200 'Moderate', 201-300 'Poor', 301-400 'Very Poor', and 401-500 'Severe'. (With inputs from PTI)

Delhi air quality dips beyond 'severe' due to dust storm 

The National Green Tribunal today directed the Delhi government to consider shutting schools whenever air quality touches emergency levels to save the children from inhaling pollutants.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked the AAP government to look into this aspect and incorporate it in its action plan to deal with the problem of air pollution.

&quot;Why don&#39;t you close schools whenever the particulate matter levels are found to be beyond 900 microgram per cubic meter. Ask the schools to run on Saturday and Sunday if required,&quot; the bench observed.

Advocate Tarunvir Singh Khehar, appearing for the Delhi government, said that this was difficult to implement because the children will have to suffer academically.

He said that air quality is bad in winter season for three months and if schools are closed during this period it would be difficult to complete their syllabus and examinations will have to be postponed.

The bench, however, expressed dissatisfaction and said, &quot;You don&#39;t do your duty and now you are giving reasons. You are spoiling the lives of children. Infants are taking antibiotics in Delhi. Why should they suffer?

&quot;In the last 12 years, the Delhi government has not taken a single step to bring down the ambient air quality within permissible limits. If the lungs of children are affected today, imagine the disease they will have after 20 years,&quot; it said while directing it to consider the suggestion.

The NGT also rapped the AAP government for not installing air purifier in government schools as per its earlier direction.

During the proceedings, the Delhi government submitted its action plan for the period when air quality touches emergency levels which it divided in three categories dealing with different levels of pollution.

The NGT said that it would pass a detailed order on ways to handle air pollution after perusing the action plans submitted by the Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh governments.

The tribunal had on December 6 slammed the AAP government and the neighbouring states over their action plan on ways to deal with severe air pollution in the city and directed them to file a detailed document to tackle the problem.

It had observed that air pollution was never at &quot;normal level&quot; in the national capital and directed the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan to file the action plan afresh.&nbsp;

The Delhi government said it would be difficult to implement because the children would suffer academically

The National Green Tribunal today directed the Delhi government to consider shutting schools whenever air quality touches emergency levels to save the children from inhaling pollutants. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked the AAP government to look into this aspect and incorporate it in its action plan to deal with the problem of air pollution. "Why don't you close schools whenever the particulate matter levels are found to be beyond 900 microgram per cubic meter. Ask the schools to run on Saturday and Sunday if required," the bench observed. Advocate Tarunvir Singh Khehar, appearing for the Delhi government, said that this was difficult to implement because the children will have to suffer academically. He said that air quality is bad in winter season for three months and if schools are closed during this period it would be difficult to complete their syllabus and examinations will have to be postponed. The bench, however, expressed dissatisfaction and said, "You don't do your duty and now you are giving reasons. You are spoiling the lives of children. Infants are taking antibiotics in Delhi. Why should they suffer? "In the last 12 years, the Delhi government has not taken a single step to bring down the ambient air quality within permissible limits. If the lungs of children are affected today, imagine the disease they will have after 20 years," it said while directing it to consider the suggestion. The NGT also rapped the AAP government for not installing air purifier in government schools as per its earlier direction. During the proceedings, the Delhi government submitted its action plan for the period when air quality touches emergency levels which it divided in three categories dealing with different levels of pollution. The NGT said that it would pass a detailed order on ways to handle air pollution after perusing the action plans submitted by the Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh governments. The tribunal had on December 6 slammed the AAP government and the neighbouring states over their action plan on ways to deal with severe air pollution in the city and directed them to file a detailed document to tackle the problem. It had observed that air pollution was never at "normal level" in the national capital and directed the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan to file the action plan afresh.

Close schools when air quality hits emergency mark: NGT to Delhi government

As the issues of air quality in Delhi continue, a slight improvement in the air was recorded on Thursday which dropped to the &#39;very poor category from &#39;severe&#39; category before.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Delhi had been in the &#39;severe&#39; air quality category for a past couple of days, health ministers issued statements for people to remain indoors.&nbsp;

There were also high-level of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) across residential areas heightening the toxicity of the haze, reports said.

As per the Air Quality Index (AQI) data, Delhi&#39;s Lodhi Road area has prominent pollutant PM 2.5 in &quot;very poor&quot; category.

The air quality did not come in the way of the ongoing test match between India and Sri Lanka at the Feroz Shah Kotla, however, the Lankans wore N95 anti-pollution masks while fielding.

Medics on Monday urged cricket&#39;s governing body to revise its rulebook after a Test match between India and Sri Lanka went ahead in the capital despite <a href="http://www.wionews.com/cricket/cricketers-vomiting-after-playing-in-polluted-delhi-sri-lanka-coach-25769">players vomiting and wheezing for air</a>.

At RK Puram, a densely populated residential area, NO2 was recorded at 135 ug/m3 while levels at ITO, which witnesses heavy volume of traffic, was 206.

During the week, NO2 had climbed to levels as high as 195 at Anand Vihar while the same was 155 and 127 at RK Puram and Dilshad Garden, respectively.

(inputs from agencies)

The AQI level in the capital was recorded in the "severe" zone for seven days between November 7 and November 13

As the issues of air quality in Delhi continue, a slight improvement in the air was recorded on Thursday which dropped to the 'very poor category from 'severe' category before. Delhi had been in the 'severe' air quality category for a past couple of days, health ministers issued statements for people to remain indoors. There were also high-level of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) across residential areas heightening the toxicity of the haze, reports said. As per the Air Quality Index (AQI) data, Delhi's Lodhi Road area has prominent pollutant PM 2.5 in "very poor" category. The air quality did not come in the way of the ongoing test match between India and Sri Lanka at the Feroz Shah Kotla, however, the Lankans wore N95 anti-pollution masks while fielding. Medics on Monday urged cricket's governing body to revise its rulebook after a Test match between India and Sri Lanka went ahead in the capital despite players vomiting and wheezing for air. At RK Puram, a densely populated residential area, NO2 was recorded at 135 ug/m3 while levels at ITO, which witnesses heavy volume of traffic, was 206. During the week, NO2 had climbed to levels as high as 195 at Anand Vihar while the same was 155 and 127 at RK Puram and Dilshad Garden, respectively. (inputs from agencies)

Delhi's air quality improves slightly, but still 'very poor'

As Delhi&#39;s air quality continues to soar beyond &#39;hazardous&#39; level, a resident of the national capital urged former US president Barack Obama to wear a face mask while on his visit to the city for a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/barack-obama-to-address-town-hall-in-delhi-today-25550" target="_blank">town hall meeting</a> scheduled today. 
 
Amrit Sharma, a data scientist by profession, wrote an open letter to Obama. He also hoped that Mr Obama&#39;s move may go a long way in generating awareness among local residents and may even propel action on combating air pollution. Sharma has been invited to attend an interactive session with Obama at the town hall.&nbsp;

&ldquo;You are one the most photographed people on earth, but none of your photos could potentially save millions of lives yet. I believe that if you wear a face mask while you are in Delhi and take a photo (of it), that alone could have an impact,&rdquo; Sharma wrote in his letter to Obama. He also reasoned that most people can&#39;t really afford expensive face masks and air purifiers in a developing country like India.&nbsp;

The Centre said it will take &quot;harsh measures&quot;, if needed, to prevent any repeat of the recent smog episode,&quot; PTI reported. Emergency measures will kick in if PM2.5 and PM10 concentration cross 300 and 500 ug/m3 and stay there for 48 hours at a stretch. The government of Delhi has issued a health advisory urging people to avoid stepping out during early morning and late evening hours. Schools have been directed to avoid outdoor assemblies and other activities in the early morning hours.

Air quality at various areas in the city was recorded at &#39;hazardous&#39; level today. While air quality at Anand Vihar was recorded at 575 at 10 am today, DTU Delhi stood at 420. Gurugram&#39;s air quality was recorded at 253 and Dwarka was at 245.

(With inputs from PTI)

Barack Obama is on his visit to the city for a town hall meeting scheduled today

As Delhi's air quality continues to soar beyond 'hazardous' level, a resident of the national capital urged former US president Barack Obama to wear a face mask while on his visit to the city for a town hall meeting scheduled today. Amrit Sharma, a data scientist by profession, wrote an open letter to Obama. He also hoped that Mr Obama's move may go a long way in generating awareness among local residents and may even propel action on combating air pollution. Sharma has been invited to attend an interactive session with Obama at the town hall. “You are one the most photographed people on earth, but none of your photos could potentially save millions of lives yet. I believe that if you wear a face mask while you are in Delhi and take a photo (of it), that alone could have an impact,” Sharma wrote in his letter to Obama. He also reasoned that most people can't really afford expensive face masks and air purifiers in a developing country like India. The Centre said it will take "harsh measures", if needed, to prevent any repeat of the recent smog episode," PTI reported. Emergency measures will kick in if PM2.5 and PM10 concentration cross 300 and 500 ug/m3 and stay there for 48 hours at a stretch. The government of Delhi has issued a health advisory urging people to avoid stepping out during early morning and late evening hours. Schools have been directed to avoid outdoor assemblies and other activities in the early morning hours. Air quality at various areas in the city was recorded at 'hazardous' level today. While air quality at Anand Vihar was recorded at 575 at 10 am today, DTU Delhi stood at 420. Gurugram's air quality was recorded at 253 and Dwarka was at 245. (With inputs from PTI)

Delhi resident urges Barack Obama to wear a mask as air quality continues to dip

Cyber Monday was on track to become the biggest-ever internet shopping day in the United States as people snapped up bargains on toys and electronics, with many more buying from their phones.

The shopping event is expected to generate $6.6 billion in sales, up from $5.6 billion a year ago, according to Adobe Analytics, which measured 80 per cent of all online transactions from the top 100 US&nbsp;web retailers. As of 10:00 pm&nbsp;EST (03:00 GMT), revenue from smartphones was $1.12 billion.

The buying frenzy has gone on for the better part of a week. Amazon.com Inc said it broke sales records this weekend and was on pace to do so on Cyber Monday. Thanksgiving and Black Friday, during which shoppers spent $7.9 billion, according to Adobe, had also generated record online sales.

The world&#39;s biggest shopping event was China&#39;s Singles&#39; Day earlier this month, in which Alibaba Group Holding Ltd reported sales of $25.4 billion.

Online sales have brightened the overall outlook for traditional US&nbsp;retailers that have expanded beyond brick-and-mortar. However, the availability of deals and promotions for weeks hurt foot traffic at stores.

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A worker uses a forklift to retrieve products stored inside of a large Amazon fulfillment center (Reuters)
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The lengthening of the holiday shopping season has had another effect, too: many Cyber Monday promotions were run of the mill.

&quot;It&#39;s not as exciting as what the marketing makes it out to be,&quot; said Guru Hariharan, CEO of e-commerce software firm Boomerang Commerce, in Mountain View, California. &quot;The majority of these &#39;deals&#39; have been around since early November or late October.&quot;

Amazon came under criticism this year for marketing discounts off list prices it infrequently charges, so shoppers perceive their purchases to be bargains - an allegation it has denied.

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The lengthening of the holiday shopping season has had another effect, too: many Cyber Monday promotions were run of the mill (Reuters)
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According to an analysis by Boomerang Commerce, online retailers including Amazon were offering bigger savings for more of their most popular toys this year than last. Amazon said it sold 3 million toys halfway through Cyber Monday.

Top rival Wal-Mart Stores Inc is within striking distance of matching Amazon&#39;s online prices for the first time, a key milestone in its effort to regain the &quot;low price leader&quot; title, data gathered for Reuters show.

Amazon shares closed up 0.8 per cent, while Wal-Mart and Target Corp shares were about flat. JC&nbsp;Penney Company Inc closed up three&nbsp;per cent, and Macy&#39;s Inc closed up 0.7 per cent.

There had been a slight improvement in air quality recently when authorities stopped all construction activity and the entry of truck into the city

Cyber Monday was on track to become the biggest-ever internet shopping day in the United States as people snapped up bargains on toys and electronics, with many more buying from their phones. The shopping event is expected to generate $6.6 billion in sales, up from $5.6 billion a year ago, according to Adobe Analytics, which measured 80 per cent of all online transactions from the top 100 US web retailers. As of 10:00 pm EST (03:00 GMT), revenue from smartphones was $1.12 billion. The buying frenzy has gone on for the better part of a week. Amazon.com Inc said it broke sales records this weekend and was on pace to do so on Cyber Monday. Thanksgiving and Black Friday, during which shoppers spent $7.9 billion, according to Adobe, had also generated record online sales. The world's biggest shopping event was China's Singles' Day earlier this month, in which Alibaba Group Holding Ltd reported sales of $25.4 billion. Online sales have brightened the overall outlook for traditional US retailers that have expanded beyond brick-and-mortar. However, the availability of deals and promotions for weeks hurt foot traffic at stores. A worker uses a forklift to retrieve products stored inside of a large Amazon fulfillment center (Reuters) × The lengthening of the holiday shopping season has had another effect, too: many Cyber Monday promotions were run of the mill. "It's not as exciting as what the marketing makes it out to be," said Guru Hariharan, CEO of e-commerce software firm Boomerang Commerce, in Mountain View, California. "The majority of these 'deals' have been around since early November or late October." Amazon came under criticism this year for marketing discounts off list prices it infrequently charges, so shoppers perceive their purchases to be bargains - an allegation it has denied. The lengthening of the holiday shopping season has had another effect, too: many Cyber Monday promotions were run of the mill (Reuters) × According to an analysis by Boomerang Commerce, online retailers including Amazon were offering bigger savings for more of their most popular toys this year than last. Amazon said it sold 3 million toys halfway through Cyber Monday. Top rival Wal-Mart Stores Inc is within striking distance of matching Amazon's online prices for the first time, a key milestone in its effort to regain the "low price leader" title, data gathered for Reuters show. Amazon shares closed up 0.8 per cent, while Wal-Mart and Target Corp shares were about flat. JC Penney Company Inc closed up three per cent, and Macy's Inc closed up 0.7 per cent.

Delhi's air quality back to 'hazardous', poor especially during morning hours

The air quality in Delhi has been deteriorating for four consecutive days, and on Tuesday the levels of AQI reached&nbsp;362 in the national capital. The weather department has warned that the &#39;very poor&#39; air quality will deteriorate further in coming days.

The Delhi government has issued a health advisory and has asked people to stay indoors while they plan to take &#39;harsh measures&#39;. &nbsp;

Officials say that the peak in poor air quality is a result of low moisture and lack of winds in Delhi, PTI reports.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/opinion-delhi-chokes-lets-turn-to-hills-24996">Delhi chokes, let&#39;s turn to hills</a>

As per reports by SAFAR, an agency under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, PM2.5 and PM10 levels will rise over the next three days.

Officials have also said that area near the Delhi Technical University recorded the highest air quality on Tuesday with an AQI of 422.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/33-trains-delayed-and-three-cancelled-due-to-low-visibility-in-delhi-25073">Several trains have also been cancelled</a>, delayed and rescheduled due&nbsp;to low visibility in Delhi in the past week.&nbsp;

Union environment secretary CK Mishra said: &quot;As a government, we are determined to not let this (smog episode) happen again, which may mean taking harsh measures, and there will be (such measures). Because, we care for lives and we cannot ignore that aspect,&quot; he said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

According to SAFAR, an agency under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, PM2.5 and PM10 levels will rise further over the next three days

The air quality in Delhi has been deteriorating for four consecutive days, and on Tuesday the levels of AQI reached 362 in the national capital. The weather department has warned that the 'very poor' air quality will deteriorate further in coming days. The Delhi government has issued a health advisory and has asked people to stay indoors while they plan to take 'harsh measures'. Officials say that the peak in poor air quality is a result of low moisture and lack of winds in Delhi, PTI reports. Also read: Delhi chokes, let's turn to hills As per reports by SAFAR, an agency under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, PM2.5 and PM10 levels will rise over the next three days. Officials have also said that area near the Delhi Technical University recorded the highest air quality on Tuesday with an AQI of 422. Several trains have also been cancelled, delayed and rescheduled due to low visibility in Delhi in the past week. Union environment secretary CK Mishra said: "As a government, we are determined to not let this (smog episode) happen again, which may mean taking harsh measures, and there will be (such measures). Because, we care for lives and we cannot ignore that aspect," he said.

Delhi: Air quality 'very poor', will deteriorate further, says Met

Amidst the continuing high levels smog, at least 33 trains were delayed, five were rescheduled and three were cancelled due to low visibility and operational reasons.&nbsp;

The air quality in Delhi was &#39;very poor&#39; once again with an AQI of 335 on Friday.

However, the air quality on Thursday was the lowest when AQI hit 288 falling in the &#39;poor&#39; category.&nbsp;

Around four train accidents have taken&nbsp;place in less than 12 hours, taking lives of about seven people and injuring 11. The deaths have raised&nbsp;some concerns over railway operations and safety.&nbsp;

The train derailment in Chitrakoot district in Utter Pradesh killed three passengers while Pradeep-Calcutta goods train derailed in Odisha&nbsp;recently.&nbsp;

Four passengers were killed and two were injured when a local passenger train hit a Bolero vehicle near Amethi in UP.&nbsp;

More recently, as many as three died and eight injured after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/train-derails-near-in-uttar-pradesh-two-dead-eight-injured-24975">13-coach Vasco Da Gama-Patna Express derailed</a> at Banda in Uttar Pradesh early Friday.&nbsp;

The national capital has been experiencing dense smog for about a month which has given a rise to these accidents.

Railway minister Piyush Goyal stated that he has requested the officials to stop taking any requests for letting trains pass during maintenance work, reports said.&nbsp;

The air quality in Delhi was 'very poor' once again with an AQI of 335 on Friday

Amidst the continuing high levels smog, at least 33 trains were delayed, five were rescheduled and three were cancelled due to low visibility and operational reasons. The air quality in Delhi was 'very poor' once again with an AQI of 335 on Friday. However, the air quality on Thursday was the lowest when AQI hit 288 falling in the 'poor' category. Around four train accidents have taken place in less than 12 hours, taking lives of about seven people and injuring 11. The deaths have raised some concerns over railway operations and safety. The train derailment in Chitrakoot district in Utter Pradesh killed three passengers while Pradeep-Calcutta goods train derailed in Odisha recently. Four passengers were killed and two were injured when a local passenger train hit a Bolero vehicle near Amethi in UP. More recently, as many as three died and eight injured after 13-coach Vasco Da Gama-Patna Express derailed at Banda in Uttar Pradesh early Friday. The national capital has been experiencing dense smog for about a month which has given a rise to these accidents. Railway minister Piyush Goyal stated that he has requested the officials to stop taking any requests for letting trains pass during maintenance work, reports said.

33 trains delayed, 3 cancelled due to low visibility in Delhi

After improvement&nbsp;on Saturday afternoon, Delhi pollution hit the &quot;emergency&quot;&nbsp;level again, with the minimum temperature dropping to 13 degrees Celsius, a MeT department official said.

High humidity level at 98 per cent contributed to the smog, the official said.&nbsp;

At 9:00 am, Particulate Matter (PM) 10 Average Levels (24 Hourly) were recorded at 614&nbsp;micro grams/m3, while PM 2.5 Average Levels (24 Hourly) were recorded at 441.7 micro grams/m3, as per Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). In Delhi&#39;s Lodhi Road area, PM 10 levels were at 560, and PM 2.5 at 625, way above the permissible limit of 100 and 60.

In Noida, PM 10 levels were at 551, and PM 2.5 levels at 541.The air quality is categorised as &quot;severe&quot;, when pollution level hits 401 or above, in the Air Quality Index (AQI).

The city&#39;s air quality worsened ahead of winter as cooler air traps pollutants near the ground, preventing them from dispersing into the atmosphere.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified four reasons for the sudden onset of pollution -- temperature, wind speed, relative humidity and atmospheric boundary layer -- for the worsening Delhi air.

Due to the dense smog engulfing national capital, 34 trains running late, 21 were rescheduled and 8 trains were cancelled.

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Delhi has been experiencing heavy smog for the past few days, forcing authorities to enforce emergency measures such as banning construction activities, barring trucks and heavy vehicles from entering Delhi and closure of brick kilns due to worsening air pollution.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government is also in talks with Pawan Hans Helicopter limited, for aerially sprinkling water in the city to settle the particulate matter.

The &quot;odd-even&quot; rationing of cars, which was supposed to begin on Monday, however,&nbsp;was called off by the Delhi government after the National Green Tribunal ordered the withdrawal of exemptions given to women and two-wheelers under the scheme. 
&nbsp;

After an improvement on Saturday afternoon, Delhi pollution hit 'emergency' level again, with the minimum temperature dropping to 13 degrees celsius, a MeT department official said

After improvement on Saturday afternoon, Delhi pollution hit the "emergency" level again, with the minimum temperature dropping to 13 degrees Celsius, a MeT department official said. High humidity level at 98 per cent contributed to the smog, the official said. At 9:00 am, Particulate Matter (PM) 10 Average Levels (24 Hourly) were recorded at 614 micro grams/m3, while PM 2.5 Average Levels (24 Hourly) were recorded at 441.7 micro grams/m3, as per Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). In Delhi's Lodhi Road area, PM 10 levels were at 560, and PM 2.5 at 625, way above the permissible limit of 100 and 60. In Noida, PM 10 levels were at 551, and PM 2.5 levels at 541.The air quality is categorised as "severe", when pollution level hits 401 or above, in the Air Quality Index (AQI). The city's air quality worsened ahead of winter as cooler air traps pollutants near the ground, preventing them from dispersing into the atmosphere. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified four reasons for the sudden onset of pollution -- temperature, wind speed, relative humidity and atmospheric boundary layer -- for the worsening Delhi air. Due to the dense smog engulfing national capital, 34 trains running late, 21 were rescheduled and 8 trains were cancelled. Delhi: 34 trains arriving late, 21 rescheduled & 8 cancelled #smog — ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2017 × Delhi has been experiencing heavy smog for the past few days, forcing authorities to enforce emergency measures such as banning construction activities, barring trucks and heavy vehicles from entering Delhi and closure of brick kilns due to worsening air pollution. Meanwhile, the Delhi government is also in talks with Pawan Hans Helicopter limited, for aerially sprinkling water in the city to settle the particulate matter. The "odd-even" rationing of cars, which was supposed to begin on Monday, however, was called off by the Delhi government after the National Green Tribunal ordered the withdrawal of exemptions given to women and two-wheelers under the scheme.

Delhi Pollution hits 'emergency' level again

It has many names. It descends annually. It stalks and descends slowly covering every nook and corner of my city. Once it&rsquo;s there you know the beast has arrived. It is insidious but unpretentious as it is always on your face. It is silent but visible. Like a hug which slowly smothers you.

In the past, homes and offices acted as fragile but workable borders but this time they too gave away like sand castles on a beach.

The silent killer envelopes the city like mother&rsquo;s love covering all and sundry. From the sky, the beast looks even more fascinating. Still but working effortlessly and nibbling away our insides slowly. The beauty of the beast is that it just doesn&rsquo;t discriminate.

It is also mysterious in its origin. No one knows as to who is responsible for its coming. Some in past suggested that it was pre-ordained but rest continue to blame everyone for its becoming. So, the talk remains a conversation or like a whisper but never an outrage.

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<h5>I think we all have an idea of what is eating our flesh gently.</h5>
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I often ask myself as to why we have failed to beat the beast? Is it the lack of will? Or, are we uninformed about its anatomy? I don&rsquo;t think so. I think we all have an idea of what is eating our flesh gently.

The beast has been unbearable and selfish this year. It incapacitated a lot of people. Victims had to rush to buy the best protection. Though some were plain faint hearts. They collapsed and passed away. Quickly.

Misery also creates good business opportunities. Two of my friends did well. They ended up making a good money. Last, I heard that left for La La Land with their children. I hate them for their entrepreneurship. They were smart enough to invest in the industry of precaution where new and better coping mechanisms are being designed. It is collaborative and remains profitable. I have also been told that it will continue to grow.

Perhaps, my despair stems from the fact that I cannot escape as quickly as I want. I cannot fight it. It cannot be fought alone. That&rsquo;s the shield of the beast.

Sometimes it also gives you relief from the drudgery of the world. For hours, it makes shanties in front of my multi-story apartment disappear. Though I can smell the dirty shanty town. Obviously, the beast also has a chink in its armour. It can make ugly things disappear temporarily but cannot hide the stench.

So, I often take little chances by immersing myself in his shadow. It smells slightly acidic. Obviously not like rotten eggs but bearable enough to remind me of my childhood of a different entity, a more benign one, which would descend on us on yearly basis. It had a similar look but spared us. Like a separated, civilised twin.

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<h5>We all fail to agree on a strategy to beat the shit out of it.</h5>
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Those were yesteryears. In the past, everyone knew with winter comes the fog. There was no panic or little precaution. But these days we all have to brace ourselves, waiting anxiously for its twin to spare us. We all fail to agree on a strategy to beat the shit out of it. It is not as if the &lsquo;us&rsquo; isn&rsquo;t concerned but it doesn&rsquo;t motivate anyone to remove the head from the monster&rsquo;s body.

&nbsp;Relief is that no one dies immediately. It begins with a gentle cough. It persists like a heartbeat to turn itself into a different creature inside you. Though many similar cases have been reported.

Those who ultimately die have millions of things to blame upon unlike the other types of malevolences where a finger can be pointed. Last year in a nearby hospital, a lot of women died because of dirty syringes. The doctor got lynched. There is no one to lynch here. I suppose it is impossible to lynch your-self and suicide is illegal in my country. &nbsp;

Then the city I live in has a robust democratic tradition. We all agree to disagree. Last Diwali, I couldn&rsquo;t even convince my aunt to ensure a Green Diwali.

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<h5>Since everyone is complicit it doesn&rsquo;t make great politics either. There no one person to blame.</h5>
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Half the population believes that neighbouring settlements, with their cars and crops, high-rises and power plants, feed the beast. In passing the blame they deny their complicity in the act.

Since everyone is complicit it doesn&rsquo;t make great politics either. There no one person to blame.

Somehow it ends up becoming a debate on everything else. Last year we all decided to stay home and bid time. Then, US election happened,&nbsp; leaving us feeling much worse than this nasty creature masquerading as velvet sheet. Fortunately, with sudden rain, the beast vanished in few days. We all cheered as the despair melted away. It was back to business as usual.&nbsp;

For the next time, I will rush to the forest when the insidious arrives. If the woodlands succumb to sprawling cities, and the beast comes knocking there too, I would run away to another hole.&nbsp;

As it has been accepted that it is better to escape than fight. I have also chosen to escape.&nbsp;

But if the smog does get me, then I would pray that it does me in my sleep. As it has done for many.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The silent killer envelopes the city like mother?s love covering all and sundry.

It has many names. It descends annually. It stalks and descends slowly covering every nook and corner of my city. Once it’s there you know the beast has arrived. It is insidious but unpretentious as it is always on your face. It is silent but visible. Like a hug which slowly smothers you. In the past, homes and offices acted as fragile but workable borders but this time they too gave away like sand castles on a beach. The silent killer envelopes the city like mother’s love covering all and sundry. From the sky, the beast looks even more fascinating. Still but working effortlessly and nibbling away our insides slowly. The beauty of the beast is that it just doesn’t discriminate. It is also mysterious in its origin. No one knows as to who is responsible for its coming. Some in past suggested that it was pre-ordained but rest continue to blame everyone for its becoming. So, the talk remains a conversation or like a whisper but never an outrage. I think we all have an idea of what is eating our flesh gently. × I often ask myself as to why we have failed to beat the beast? Is it the lack of will? Or, are we uninformed about its anatomy? I don’t think so. I think we all have an idea of what is eating our flesh gently. The beast has been unbearable and selfish this year. It incapacitated a lot of people. Victims had to rush to buy the best protection. Though some were plain faint hearts. They collapsed and passed away. Quickly. Misery also creates good business opportunities. Two of my friends did well. They ended up making a good money. Last, I heard that left for La La Land with their children. I hate them for their entrepreneurship. They were smart enough to invest in the industry of precaution where new and better coping mechanisms are being designed. It is collaborative and remains profitable. I have also been told that it will continue to grow. Perhaps, my despair stems from the fact that I cannot escape as quickly as I want. I cannot fight it. It cannot be fought alone. That’s the shield of the beast. Sometimes it also gives you relief from the drudgery of the world. For hours, it makes shanties in front of my multi-story apartment disappear. Though I can smell the dirty shanty town. Obviously, the beast also has a chink in its armour. It can make ugly things disappear temporarily but cannot hide the stench. So, I often take little chances by immersing myself in his shadow. It smells slightly acidic. Obviously not like rotten eggs but bearable enough to remind me of my childhood of a different entity, a more benign one, which would descend on us on yearly basis. It had a similar look but spared us. Like a separated, civilised twin. We all fail to agree on a strategy to beat the shit out of it. × Those were yesteryears. In the past, everyone knew with winter comes the fog. There was no panic or little precaution. But these days we all have to brace ourselves, waiting anxiously for its twin to spare us. We all fail to agree on a strategy to beat the shit out of it. It is not as if the ‘us’ isn’t concerned but it doesn’t motivate anyone to remove the head from the monster’s body. Relief is that no one dies immediately. It begins with a gentle cough. It persists like a heartbeat to turn itself into a different creature inside you. Though many similar cases have been reported. Those who ultimately die have millions of things to blame upon unlike the other types of malevolences where a finger can be pointed. Last year in a nearby hospital, a lot of women died because of dirty syringes. The doctor got lynched. There is no one to lynch here. I suppose it is impossible to lynch your-self and suicide is illegal in my country. Then the city I live in has a robust democratic tradition. We all agree to disagree. Last Diwali, I couldn’t even convince my aunt to ensure a Green Diwali. Since everyone is complicit it doesn’t make great politics either. There no one person to blame. × Half the population believes that neighbouring settlements, with their cars and crops, high-rises and power plants, feed the beast. In passing the blame they deny their complicity in the act. Since everyone is complicit it doesn’t make great politics either. There no one person to blame. Somehow it ends up becoming a debate on everything else. Last year we all decided to stay home and bid time. Then, US election happened, leaving us feeling much worse than this nasty creature masquerading as velvet sheet. Fortunately, with sudden rain, the beast vanished in few days. We all cheered as the despair melted away. It was back to business as usual. For the next time, I will rush to the forest when the insidious arrives. If the woodlands succumb to sprawling cities, and the beast comes knocking there too, I would run away to another hole. As it has been accepted that it is better to escape than fight. I have also chosen to escape. But if the smog does get me, then I would pray that it does me in my sleep. As it has done for many.

Delhi pollution: My city is killing me, softly

I will celebrate Diwali as I always did. With my family at my mother&rsquo;s house where boys will get the tiring job of lighting all the diyas and women will set the puja room. The only thing which would not be there this time would be firecrackers. I will not miss them not because I hate them but because I will get up next morning with better air.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

We live in a gas chamber, and we must fight for clean air for our children. They deserve it. it is a right they have but cannot understand it in its absence.

&nbsp;

The first criticism of the decision would be on the basis of faith. Many would argue that all reforms are taking place within Hinduism, and the decision does not respect the sensibility of the community.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Diwali is a festival of light and it is celebrated because maryadapurushottam Ram came back to Ayodhya. The message is to light up both inner and the outer world. It symbolises the victory of right over wrong. Today the right thing to do is to understand the urgency of our surrounding which even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken in the context of Swachh Bharat. Our festivals can be made ecologically friendly. Both Holi and Diwali can be celebrated without damaging the environment. India must learn to celebrate festivals like Diwali in spirit apart from the form.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;India needs to stand guard against the lobby which brings faith into the matter of environment. Even the issue of abattoirs being banned in Uttar Pradesh was contested by many parties on the basis of religion. Many Left of the centre parties cried discrimination but the fact was that the state government implemented the guidelines approved by the court.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In India politicians always take populist positions, leaving the hard decision making to the Supreme Court.&nbsp; It for this reason that India has failed to tackle either vehicular pollution or big industry pollution.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;The worst part of the discourse is that issues related to the environment, gender or even animal right get entangled with religion and regional pride. The political vacuum and failure of politicians then created a chasm in Tamil Nadu which was filled by anti-Jallikattu protests. There was an absence of a nuanced debate on the issue of survival of native bulls. The issue boiled down to Tamil Pride. Similarly, gender issues like Shani Shignapur, Sabrimalay and Triple Talaq got intertwined with religion.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;We must spare a thought on the Supreme Court&rsquo;s verdict on Diwali. By restricting the sales, it is trying to reduce the noise and air pollution which NCR has to go through. It will be a great dis-service if India continues to bow down to popular pressure in the name of religious practice. Religion and traditional religious practices are two different things. Even in the context of triple talaq, Supreme Court argues whether it is essential to the practice of Islam and then ruled on the subject. I don&rsquo;t think burning firecrackers is an essential part of the practice of Hinduism during Diwali.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;Festivals celebrated by all communities must be a source of light rather leaving a heavy footprint on the environment. Let&rsquo;s not politicise clean air. Air doesn&rsquo;t discriminate and all us must contribute in this process so that future generations inherit a better and cleaner environment.

Lastly, only the sale has been restricted in the NCR and not bursting of firecrackers. Neither it is a nation-wide ban. The judgement should pave the way for stricter environmental norms when it comes to festivals because bans don&#39;t work in the long run; consensus does.&nbsp;

India needs to stand guard against the lobby which brings faith into the matter of environment.

I will celebrate Diwali as I always did. With my family at my mother’s house where boys will get the tiring job of lighting all the diyas and women will set the puja room. The only thing which would not be there this time would be firecrackers. I will not miss them not because I hate them but because I will get up next morning with better air. We live in a gas chamber, and we must fight for clean air for our children. They deserve it. it is a right they have but cannot understand it in its absence. The first criticism of the decision would be on the basis of faith. Many would argue that all reforms are taking place within Hinduism, and the decision does not respect the sensibility of the community. Diwali is a festival of light and it is celebrated because maryadapurushottam Ram came back to Ayodhya. The message is to light up both inner and the outer world. It symbolises the victory of right over wrong. Today the right thing to do is to understand the urgency of our surrounding which even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken in the context of Swachh Bharat. Our festivals can be made ecologically friendly. Both Holi and Diwali can be celebrated without damaging the environment. India must learn to celebrate festivals like Diwali in spirit apart from the form. India needs to stand guard against the lobby which brings faith into the matter of environment. Even the issue of abattoirs being banned in Uttar Pradesh was contested by many parties on the basis of religion. Many Left of the centre parties cried discrimination but the fact was that the state government implemented the guidelines approved by the court. In India politicians always take populist positions, leaving the hard decision making to the Supreme Court. It for this reason that India has failed to tackle either vehicular pollution or big industry pollution. The worst part of the discourse is that issues related to the environment, gender or even animal right get entangled with religion and regional pride. The political vacuum and failure of politicians then created a chasm in Tamil Nadu which was filled by anti-Jallikattu protests. There was an absence of a nuanced debate on the issue of survival of native bulls. The issue boiled down to Tamil Pride. Similarly, gender issues like Shani Shignapur, Sabrimalay and Triple Talaq got intertwined with religion. We must spare a thought on the Supreme Court’s verdict on Diwali. By restricting the sales, it is trying to reduce the noise and air pollution which NCR has to go through. It will be a great dis-service if India continues to bow down to popular pressure in the name of religious practice. Religion and traditional religious practices are two different things. Even in the context of triple talaq, Supreme Court argues whether it is essential to the practice of Islam and then ruled on the subject. I don’t think burning firecrackers is an essential part of the practice of Hinduism during Diwali. Festivals celebrated by all communities must be a source of light rather leaving a heavy footprint on the environment. Let’s not politicise clean air. Air doesn’t discriminate and all us must contribute in this process so that future generations inherit a better and cleaner environment. Lastly, only the sale has been restricted in the NCR and not bursting of firecrackers. Neither it is a nation-wide ban. The judgement should pave the way for stricter environmental norms when it comes to festivals because bans don't work in the long run; consensus does.

Why I welcome green Diwali

As smoke caused by Diwali fireworks blanketed the Indian capital, the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said the city&#39;s air quality has plunged to &#39;severe&#39; category.&nbsp;

The monitoring stations recorded the level of respirable pollutants, PM 2.5 and PM 10, at 283 and 517 micrograms per cubic metre respectively around 8 PM on Sunday, which violated the safe limits by multiple times.&nbsp;

The prescribed standards of PM 2.5 and PM 10 are 60 and 100 respectively, but the recent pollution levels carry the risk of harming people&#39;s respiratory system as the ultra fine particulates can embed deep into the lungs and also enter the bloodstream.

Samples from the monitoring stations at Pusa Road, Mathura Road, Dhirpur, Delhi University, Pitampura as well as neighbouring Noida had air quality in the &#39;severe&#39; zone.

Delhi pollution control committee&#39;s (DPCC) real-time readings were also indicative of the increasing levels of pollution with the rise in the numbers of crackers going off.

Pollution peaks in the national capital during Diwali as a hazardous mix of noxious gases and respirable pollutants hang very close to the surface due to low temperature and near-stagnant wind movement.

(WION with inputs from PTI) 
&nbsp;

Alarmingly high levels of hazardous gases & pollutants were recorded in Delhi as smoke from the Diwali fireworks covered the city

As smoke caused by Diwali fireworks blanketed the Indian capital, the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said the city's air quality has plunged to 'severe' category. The monitoring stations recorded the level of respirable pollutants, PM 2.5 and PM 10, at 283 and 517 micrograms per cubic metre respectively around 8 PM on Sunday, which violated the safe limits by multiple times. The prescribed standards of PM 2.5 and PM 10 are 60 and 100 respectively, but the recent pollution levels carry the risk of harming people's respiratory system as the ultra fine particulates can embed deep into the lungs and also enter the bloodstream. Samples from the monitoring stations at Pusa Road, Mathura Road, Dhirpur, Delhi University, Pitampura as well as neighbouring Noida had air quality in the 'severe' zone. Delhi pollution control committee's (DPCC) real-time readings were also indicative of the increasing levels of pollution with the rise in the numbers of crackers going off. Pollution peaks in the national capital during Diwali as a hazardous mix of noxious gases and respirable pollutants hang very close to the surface due to low temperature and near-stagnant wind movement. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Smog engulfs Indian capital, air quality plunges to 'severe' category

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