Hello Everybody! This article highlights the acute problem that Delhi faced just a few days ago, it's reasons and implications. Hope you have a good time reading it! Please do share your views in the comment section!

Thick smog enveloped New Delhi since the Diwali celebration, as the Capital saw the worst spell of smog for a few days.

The air quality has been termed 'severe' as pollution levels touched the sky. Particulate matter (2.5) crossed the 900 mark in some areas, recording about 15 times the safety limit.

Environmentalists said Delhi is facing an acute crisis and the Government introduced certain measures that incorporated shutting down schools for 3 days and closing down the Badarpur thermal power plant for 10 days.

What has caused such a situation?

The smog, since Diwali, has been continuous because of certain climate conditions, for example, low wind speed, absence of vertical wind and low temperatures. Winds have been stagnant for too long and this prevents the toxins and particulate matter to be blown away, clearing up a portion of the smog. Be with no winds, the toxins stayed stagnant. This situation was worsened by a peculiar wind phenomenon, because of which all the polluted air from Northern states of India was redirected towards Delhi.

The spike in pollutants amid the festive season has primarily been attributed to smoke from firecrackers, vehicular traffic and the burning of post-harvest stalks in neighbouring states.

What are the health implications of exposure to high levels of smog?

Many individuals complained that the high pollution levels made the mouths taste bitter and eyes water. This situation has hit the children and elderly the hardest. The elderly people faced problems such as breathlessness and nasal irritation.  

Particulate matter are very tiny dust particles that can be absorbed in lungs and reach the blood tissues, thus triggering respiratory and cardiac problems. Pulmonologists said that continuous exposure to such high levels of particulate matter can lead to irreversible damage to our lungs.

What can be done to avoid such a situation in future?

Simultaneous rounds of the odd-even initiative  

Closing down the Badarpur coal plant at times of high pollution

Temporary ban on diesel vehicles

Temporary ban on trucks  

Sprinkling water on the streets

Cloud Seeding

Thanks for reading! Have a great day :)