<p>Kashmir received this season&#39;s first snowfall in Sonamarg and Naranag in central Kashmir&rsquo;s Ganderbal district.</p>

<p>Reports said snowfall had started around 3am(local time) on Wednesday morning.</p>

<p>Sonamarg and Naranag are popular tourist destinations, several tourists&nbsp;were pleasantly surprised as they woke up to snow-covered hills.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Indian Metrological Department has predicted light rain and snowfall between November 14 and 15.</p>


Reports said snowfall had started around 3am on Wednesday morning.

Kashmir received this season's first snowfall in Sonamarg and Naranag in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. Reports said snowfall had started around 3am(local time) on Wednesday morning. Sonamarg and Naranag are popular tourist destinations, several tourists were pleasantly surprised as they woke up to snow-covered hills. The Indian Metrological Department has predicted light rain and snowfall between November 14 and 15.

Watch: Heavy snowfall in J&K's Sonamarg and Naranag

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

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<h5>I think we all have an idea of what is eating our flesh gently.</h5>
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<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

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<h5>We all fail to agree on a strategy to beat the shit out of it.</h5>
</blockquote>
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<p>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.</p>

<p>&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.</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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.</p>

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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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<p>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.</p>

<p>Since everyone is complicit it doesn&rsquo;t make great politics either. There no one person to blame.</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>As it has been accepted that it is better to escape than fight. I have also chosen to escape.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But if the smog does get me, then I would pray that it does me in my sleep. As it has done for many.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


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

<p>The fog in northern India <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/10-students-died-in-accident-due-to-fog-in-bhatinda-23747">has triggered another series of horrific vehicle crashes</a> in Haryana&#39;s Palwal district.</p>

<p>At least two dozen vehicles collided leading to several people being injured.&nbsp;</p>

<p>All those who have been injured were admitted to a government hospital nearby, with reports of at least one person being killed.</p>

<p>On Wednesday, dense fog in Bhatinda, Punjab had resulted in a huge accident leading to the death of at least 10 students with at least 25 others injured.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The low visibility due to the smog in Bhatinda had led to the collision of four vehicles.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


All those who have been injured were admitted to a government hospital nearby, with reports of at least one person being killed.

The fog in northern India has triggered another series of horrific vehicle crashes in Haryana's Palwal district. At least two dozen vehicles collided leading to several people being injured. All those who have been injured were admitted to a government hospital nearby, with reports of at least one person being killed. On Wednesday, dense fog in Bhatinda, Punjab had resulted in a huge accident leading to the death of at least 10 students with at least 25 others injured. The low visibility due to the smog in Bhatinda had led to the collision of four vehicles.

Watch: Two dozen vehicles collide due to fog in Haryana, several injured

<p style="text-align: justify;">&ldquo;If winters are here can the smog be far behind?&rdquo;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">If you live in Delhi or for that matter in north-west India, chances are you must have listened to this resigned lament at least once every year before the onset of winters.&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Smog, a combination of smoke and fog, has a corrosive quality and plays havoc with your respiratory system. In Delhi and the adjoining National Capital Region (NCR), the problem has grown over the years and has assumed dangerous proportions during the last decade and a half.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">During the 1980s and 90s, the problem of smoke and smog had started raising its ugly head but at that time the reasons were different. The use of diesel as fuel in buses and auto-rickshaws as well as the indiscriminate burning of waste was considered to be the main culprits. So when the city shifted to CNG (compressed natural gas) for autos and buses, there was an immediate improvement in the ambient air quality.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style="text-align: justify;">However, in the first decade of the 21st century, all the gains made due to the implementation of CNG were lost because of a host of reasons. &nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Still, the menace can be fought but a multipronged action needs to be taken in a mission mode.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">But before talking about the solutions we should know the causes of smog in Delhi and the limitations they will put on the solutions implemented in the future.&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Delhi is geographically predisposed to suffer from the haze. Proximity to arid zones of Rajasthan, increasing desertification coupled with erratic wind flow patterns during winter creates a situation where even moderate pollution can lead to long spells of haze.&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Adding to this, many new and old sources of pollution have conspired to choke Delhi in the last two decades. &nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Right now the city suffers from smog due to four main reasons &ndash; burning of crop stubble in Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, the presence of polluting industries in the NCR region, very high density of diesel-run automobiles as well as constant and widespread construction activities.&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Let&rsquo;s begin with crop residue burning. Earlier, when the crops were harvested by hand, they would get easily mixed with the soil when tractors were used since the stubbles left behind were very small. Now long staffs of stubbles are left behind because of the mechanised thrashers and harvesters, leaving no option for the farmers but to burn them.&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Technicians, scientists and engineers should come together to find a solution to this problem on an emergency basis and the government should financially help the farmers to introduce new methods of harvesting their crops once they are in place. Penalising them alone wouldn&rsquo;t work.</p>

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<h5>Now long staffs of stubbles are left behind because of the mechanised thrashers and harvesters, leaving no option for the farmers but to burn them.&nbsp;</h5>
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<p>Most of the industries, in and around Delhi fall into the category of MSMEs or Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises. They use diesel and furnace oil, two of the most polluting fuels, as their sources of energy.&nbsp;A thorough research has already been done and various government agencies suggest that a cleaner fuel in the form of natural gas is available and can readily be provided to these industries.&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">The industry, on the other hand, fears it will escalate their cost of production and make their product unviable in the market. The government should sponsor a scheme to compulsorily change their fuel use.&nbsp;We should remember that these small enterprises operate on very little margins so they would need government help to make a transition to cleaner fuel. Tax holidays and soft loans to implement fuel transition and technology installation can be a way forward.&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Third, there should be a complete ban on construction activities between the months of October to March.&nbsp;In a growing economy, construction activities will happen and should happen. But it should be made time specific in the context of NCR to stop its ill effect on health during a season which increases pollutant levels in the air.&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Fourth, is automobiles. Here, the people&rsquo;s participation is needed. The government should seriously consider banning certain types of automobiles for personal use, especially diesel driven SUVs and other big cars, and encourage people to use public transport as much as they can.&nbsp;For this, the government will also have to provide last mile connectivity and improved bus services which are reliable and comfortable. Bicycle lanes should be strictly followed and a heavy penalty should be imposed on those who violate it.&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Finally, the coal-fired power plant in Delhi should be phased out and the government should force the distribution companies to source electricity from gas-fired power plants and solar farms from Rajasthan.&nbsp;It may increase the power bills a bit, but that&rsquo;s a small price to pay for clean and healthy air.&nbsp;</p>


Delhi chokes from burning of crop stubble in Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, the presence of polluting industries in the NCR region, very high density of diesel-run automobiles as well as constant and widespread construction activities.?

“If winters are here can the smog be far behind?” If you live in Delhi or for that matter in north-west India, chances are you must have listened to this resigned lament at least once every year before the onset of winters. Smog, a combination of smoke and fog, has a corrosive quality and plays havoc with your respiratory system. In Delhi and the adjoining National Capital Region (NCR), the problem has grown over the years and has assumed dangerous proportions during the last decade and a half. During the 1980s and 90s, the problem of smoke and smog had started raising its ugly head but at that time the reasons were different. The use of diesel as fuel in buses and auto-rickshaws as well as the indiscriminate burning of waste was considered to be the main culprits. So when the city shifted to CNG (compressed natural gas) for autos and buses, there was an immediate improvement in the ambient air quality. Smog, a combination of smoke and fog, has a corrosive quality and plays havoc with your respiratory system. × However, in the first decade of the 21st century, all the gains made due to the implementation of CNG were lost because of a host of reasons. Still, the menace can be fought but a multipronged action needs to be taken in a mission mode. But before talking about the solutions we should know the causes of smog in Delhi and the limitations they will put on the solutions implemented in the future. Delhi is geographically predisposed to suffer from the haze. Proximity to arid zones of Rajasthan, increasing desertification coupled with erratic wind flow patterns during winter creates a situation where even moderate pollution can lead to long spells of haze. Adding to this, many new and old sources of pollution have conspired to choke Delhi in the last two decades. Right now the city suffers from smog due to four main reasons – burning of crop stubble in Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, the presence of polluting industries in the NCR region, very high density of diesel-run automobiles as well as constant and widespread construction activities. Let’s begin with crop residue burning. Earlier, when the crops were harvested by hand, they would get easily mixed with the soil when tractors were used since the stubbles left behind were very small. Now long staffs of stubbles are left behind because of the mechanised thrashers and harvesters, leaving no option for the farmers but to burn them. Technicians, scientists and engineers should come together to find a solution to this problem on an emergency basis and the government should financially help the farmers to introduce new methods of harvesting their crops once they are in place. Penalising them alone wouldn’t work. Now long staffs of stubbles are left behind because of the mechanised thrashers and harvesters, leaving no option for the farmers but to burn them. × Most of the industries, in and around Delhi fall into the category of MSMEs or Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises. They use diesel and furnace oil, two of the most polluting fuels, as their sources of energy. A thorough research has already been done and various government agencies suggest that a cleaner fuel in the form of natural gas is available and can readily be provided to these industries. The industry, on the other hand, fears it will escalate their cost of production and make their product unviable in the market. The government should sponsor a scheme to compulsorily change their fuel use. We should remember that these small enterprises operate on very little margins so they would need government help to make a transition to cleaner fuel. Tax holidays and soft loans to implement fuel transition and technology installation can be a way forward. Third, there should be a complete ban on construction activities between the months of October to March. In a growing economy, construction activities will happen and should happen. But it should be made time specific in the context of NCR to stop its ill effect on health during a season which increases pollutant levels in the air. Fourth, is automobiles. Here, the people’s participation is needed. The government should seriously consider banning certain types of automobiles for personal use, especially diesel driven SUVs and other big cars, and encourage people to use public transport as much as they can. For this, the government will also have to provide last mile connectivity and improved bus services which are reliable and comfortable. Bicycle lanes should be strictly followed and a heavy penalty should be imposed on those who violate it. Finally, the coal-fired power plant in Delhi should be phased out and the government should force the distribution companies to source electricity from gas-fired power plants and solar farms from Rajasthan. It may increase the power bills a bit, but that’s a small price to pay for clean and healthy air.

Smog: No easy way out for Delhi

<p>The dense fog in Bhatinda,&nbsp;Punjab has resulted in a huge&nbsp;accident leading to the death of at least&nbsp;10 students with at least 25 others injured.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The low visibility due to the smog in Bhatinda led to the collision of four vehicles.</p>

<p>A truck rammed into a Scorpio and then collided with the college bus killing ten students.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The accident happened in Bhucho&nbsp;mandi, a village in Bhatinda.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One student who suffered serious injuries was referred to PGIMER hospital in Chandigarh.</p>

<p>Finance minister of Punjab, Manpreet Singh Badal has assured one lakh as compensation to the students who have died in the accident.</p>

<p>The 25 injured have been promised compensation of Rs 50,000.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner said that a college bus had stopped on the expressway, a truck collided with a Scorpio which&nbsp;hit the college bus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The Finance Minister of Punjab, Manpreet Singh Badal has assured to give one lakh as compensation to the students who have died in the accident

The dense fog in Bhatinda, Punjab has resulted in a huge accident leading to the death of at least 10 students with at least 25 others injured. The low visibility due to the smog in Bhatinda led to the collision of four vehicles. A truck rammed into a Scorpio and then collided with the college bus killing ten students. The accident happened in Bhucho mandi, a village in Bhatinda. One student who suffered serious injuries was referred to PGIMER hospital in Chandigarh. Finance minister of Punjab, Manpreet Singh Badal has assured one lakh as compensation to the students who have died in the accident. The 25 injured have been promised compensation of Rs 50,000. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner said that a college bus had stopped on the expressway, a truck collided with a Scorpio which hit the college bus.

Watch: 10 students die in accident due to fog in Punjab

<p>Hypothetically, time travels in my head, always take me to an imaginary window, through which I can see lush green trees across the street. Maybe after a cup of tea, practise yoga, inhaling the fresh air and while travelling to another place, cross a fresh stream or any water body that is responsible for providing drinking water to the city. Time and space window shopping, is a few minute luxury, always failing to the gravity of reality.</p>

<p>The alarming deterioration of air quality in and around my city, especially this time of the year always attracts multiple reports from various angles, parallel planes with other issues, and studio debates on the white smog. While all this goes on, we still breathe. We breathe the analogies, theoretical solutions, and short-term bans. All the while still choking on a constant deteriorating air of the National Capital Region and then like any particulate matter which cannot be seen, yet harmful for lungs as it can be absorbed by the body, we settle down at a corner away from the action.</p>

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<h5>Prolonged exposure to particulate air pollution is associated with the adverse cardiovascular event.</h5>
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<p><strong>Bad air, bad blood</strong></p>

<p>Various scientific studies prove that prolonged exposure to particulate air pollution is associated with the adverse cardiovascular event.</p>

<p>Both gaseous air pollutants (ie, ozone, sulphur and nitric oxides, carbon monoxide) and particulate matter (pm) cause adverse effects on health. However, the most serious effects are related to the particulate matter.</p>

<p>When we inhale polluted air with high levels of pm 2.5, due to their characteristic small size it penetrates beyond the upper respiratory tract into alveoli of the lungs, and from there enter into the circulation system.</p>

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<h5>The World Health Organisation calculates the urban air pollution is an important cause of global mortality, being responsible for almost 700,000 premature deaths.</h5>
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<p>These particulate matters also consist of many toxic substances (eg: metals) which leads to oxidative stress, i.e. impaired performance of cells caused by the presence of too many oxygen molecules in them and fibrinolysis, a process which prevents blood clots formation.</p>

<p>Few other toxins lead to blood clot formation in the arteries, thus considerably increasing the chances of a heart stroke. The World Health Organisation calculates the urban air pollution is an important cause of global mortality, being responsible for almost 700,000 premature deaths.</p>

<p><strong>The saga of an outsider: particulate matter</strong></p>

<p>The human immune system consists of many policemen known as the antibodies, their job is to check any infiltration of foreign bodies called antigen. In case they identify such antigen, pass the intelligence information to all the other forces (enzymes and other immune bodies).</p>

<p>Their job is to surround the foreign body and start killing it. Such intra body war-like scenario often gives out silent signals like itching and reddening of the area.</p>

<p>When a similar heightened process occurs in lungs due to the particulate matter, a foreign body settling in alveoli, the muscles in the airways of the lungs constrict, as a result the person find difficulty in breathing.</p>

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<h5>India accounts for a quarter of deaths caused worldwide by the two most chronic respiratory diseases COPD and asthma.</h5>
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<p><strong>The facts</strong></p>

<p>According to a recent survey: 35 per cent kids from Indian metro cities have asthma, whereas, about 22 million Americans have asthma. There are 5.4 million people with asthma in the UK, in every 10 seconds, someone is having a potentially life-threatening asthma attack in the UK.</p>

<p>India accounts for a quarter of deaths caused worldwide by the two most chronic respiratory diseases, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and asthma, according to the latest global burden of disease study.</p>

<p><strong>Perspective beyond obvious</strong></p>

<p>With each blow on the environment, we must realise that we are pushing the human race towards a vulnerable and low-quality lifestyle. We must have lost faith in ourselves, otherwise, we would have never doubted the power of one person dedicated to a good cause. The fact that we are casual about our habits and passive to surrounding problems, expose a threatening world in coming days. With the fast depletion of the basic resources, we are almost walking on the edge of time, where we might have to change few definitions in the social science books.</p>

<p>One of the leading physicists, Stephen Hawkings believes that human stupidity and pollution are the biggest threat to the mankind.</p>

<p>Even in a divided world, the sorrow of the environment unites us. Before the grief turns a threat to existence, lets at least make an attempt towards a better future.</p>


The continuous deterioration of air quality is leading to various cardiovascular diseases and breathing problem

Hypothetically, time travels in my head, always take me to an imaginary window, through which I can see lush green trees across the street. Maybe after a cup of tea, practise yoga, inhaling the fresh air and while travelling to another place, cross a fresh stream or any water body that is responsible for providing drinking water to the city. Time and space window shopping, is a few minute luxury, always failing to the gravity of reality. The alarming deterioration of air quality in and around my city, especially this time of the year always attracts multiple reports from various angles, parallel planes with other issues, and studio debates on the white smog. While all this goes on, we still breathe. We breathe the analogies, theoretical solutions, and short-term bans. All the while still choking on a constant deteriorating air of the National Capital Region and then like any particulate matter which cannot be seen, yet harmful for lungs as it can be absorbed by the body, we settle down at a corner away from the action. Prolonged exposure to particulate air pollution is associated with the adverse cardiovascular event. × Bad air, bad blood Various scientific studies prove that prolonged exposure to particulate air pollution is associated with the adverse cardiovascular event. Both gaseous air pollutants (ie, ozone, sulphur and nitric oxides, carbon monoxide) and particulate matter (pm) cause adverse effects on health. However, the most serious effects are related to the particulate matter. When we inhale polluted air with high levels of pm 2.5, due to their characteristic small size it penetrates beyond the upper respiratory tract into alveoli of the lungs, and from there enter into the circulation system. The World Health Organisation calculates the urban air pollution is an important cause of global mortality, being responsible for almost 700,000 premature deaths. × These particulate matters also consist of many toxic substances (eg: metals) which leads to oxidative stress, i.e. impaired performance of cells caused by the presence of too many oxygen molecules in them and fibrinolysis, a process which prevents blood clots formation. Few other toxins lead to blood clot formation in the arteries, thus considerably increasing the chances of a heart stroke. The World Health Organisation calculates the urban air pollution is an important cause of global mortality, being responsible for almost 700,000 premature deaths. The saga of an outsider: particulate matter The human immune system consists of many policemen known as the antibodies, their job is to check any infiltration of foreign bodies called antigen. In case they identify such antigen, pass the intelligence information to all the other forces (enzymes and other immune bodies). Their job is to surround the foreign body and start killing it. Such intra body war-like scenario often gives out silent signals like itching and reddening of the area. When a similar heightened process occurs in lungs due to the particulate matter, a foreign body settling in alveoli, the muscles in the airways of the lungs constrict, as a result the person find difficulty in breathing. India accounts for a quarter of deaths caused worldwide by the two most chronic respiratory diseases COPD and asthma. × The facts According to a recent survey: 35 per cent kids from Indian metro cities have asthma, whereas, about 22 million Americans have asthma. There are 5.4 million people with asthma in the UK, in every 10 seconds, someone is having a potentially life-threatening asthma attack in the UK. India accounts for a quarter of deaths caused worldwide by the two most chronic respiratory diseases, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and asthma, according to the latest global burden of disease study. Perspective beyond obvious With each blow on the environment, we must realise that we are pushing the human race towards a vulnerable and low-quality lifestyle. We must have lost faith in ourselves, otherwise, we would have never doubted the power of one person dedicated to a good cause. The fact that we are casual about our habits and passive to surrounding problems, expose a threatening world in coming days. With the fast depletion of the basic resources, we are almost walking on the edge of time, where we might have to change few definitions in the social science books. One of the leading physicists, Stephen Hawkings believes that human stupidity and pollution are the biggest threat to the mankind. Even in a divided world, the sorrow of the environment unites us. Before the grief turns a threat to existence, lets at least make an attempt towards a better future.

The future seems blurred through smog and dust

<p>North India woke up to another foggy morning Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Visibility was low in the Indian capital Delhi and cars out on the roads early in the morning had their hazard lights on.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Punjab: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash">#Visuals</a> of dense fog from Amritsar city <a href="https://t.co/eNIWi4RoFP">pic.twitter.com/eNIWi4RoFP</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/806690118899679232">December 8, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<p>Six international and seven domestic flights were delayed. One domestic flight was cancelled, taking the total number of flights disrupted to 14.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A total of 112 trains were disrupted; 94 were running late, two were cancelled and 16 rescheduled.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dense fog and cold were also reported from the states of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


14 flights and 112 trains into and out of the capital Delhi were disrupted

North India woke up to another foggy morning Thursday. Visibility was low in the Indian capital Delhi and cars out on the roads early in the morning had their hazard lights on. Punjab: #Visuals of dense fog from Amritsar city pic.twitter.com/eNIWi4RoFP — ANI (@ANI_news) December 8, 2016 × Six international and seven domestic flights were delayed. One domestic flight was cancelled, taking the total number of flights disrupted to 14. A total of 112 trains were disrupted; 94 were running late, two were cancelled and 16 rescheduled. Dense fog and cold were also reported from the states of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. (WION)

North India wakes up to another foggy morning

<p>After being hit by the worst smog in years, New Delhi today saw thick fog following a couple of weeks of clear weather.</p>

<p>Thursday&#39;s fog affected in the Indian capital and nearby regions affected road, rail and air travel.</p>

<p>The visibility was below 50 metres (55 yards) early morning, leading to the Indira Gandhi International Airport suspending operations. Around four domestic flights were diverted in the morning.</p>

<p>&quot;There was dense fog during the night which caused a lot of problems. It is natural and can lead to accidents on the road,&quot; said passenger Ravinder Singh, flying to Sydney via Bangkok, told Reuters.</p>

<p>Northern railways informed that 50 trains were running late.</p>

<p>The fog is expected to persist for a week, weather forecasters said.</p>

<p>North India, and in particular New Delhi, suffers from a temperature inversion at this time of year that traps air pollution.</p>

<p>The US&nbsp;Embassy&#39;s monitoring station recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 297 that is classified as &quot;very unhealthy&quot;.</p>

<p>It, however, was not as bad as readings that approached 1,000, which is way off the AQI scale that runs to 500, during the first week of November, caused by firecrackers during the Diwali festival and burning of crop stubble in nearby regions.</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from Reuters)</p>


North India, and in particular New Delhi, suffers from a temperature inversion at this time of year that traps air pollution

After being hit by the worst smog in years, New Delhi today saw thick fog following a couple of weeks of clear weather. Thursday's fog affected in the Indian capital and nearby regions affected road, rail and air travel. The visibility was below 50 metres (55 yards) early morning, leading to the Indira Gandhi International Airport suspending operations. Around four domestic flights were diverted in the morning. "There was dense fog during the night which caused a lot of problems. It is natural and can lead to accidents on the road," said passenger Ravinder Singh, flying to Sydney via Bangkok, told Reuters. Northern railways informed that 50 trains were running late. The fog is expected to persist for a week, weather forecasters said. North India, and in particular New Delhi, suffers from a temperature inversion at this time of year that traps air pollution. The US Embassy's monitoring station recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 297 that is classified as "very unhealthy". It, however, was not as bad as readings that approached 1,000, which is way off the AQI scale that runs to 500, during the first week of November, caused by firecrackers during the Diwali festival and burning of crop stubble in nearby regions. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

After smog, Indian capital welcomes foggy winters

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