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Photo: Emergency sounded in Delhi as pollution reaches severe category

The National Capital Region (NCR) experienced its most polluted day in nearly two years on Friday as the air quality deteriorated sharply, forcing the authorities to advise people to stay indoors, shut down schools, ban all construction activity, and declare a “public health emergency”. People are advised to ensure they minimise personal exposure to the outside air as far as possible and do not exercise in the open till pollution levels are reduced. In particular, minimise exposure of children, aged and vulnerable

Updated on: Nov 02, 2019 7:37 PM IST

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1/11

The Signature Bridge is seen blanketed by smog at Wazirabad, in New Delhi. The National Capital Region (NCR) experienced its most polluted day in nearly two years on Friday as the air quality deteriorated sharply, forcing the authorities to advise people to stay indoors, shut down schools, ban all construction activity, and declare a “public health emergency”. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 02, 2019 7:37 PM

The Signature Bridge is seen blanketed by smog at Wazirabad, in New Delhi. The National Capital Region (NCR) experienced its most polluted day in nearly two years on Friday as the air quality deteriorated sharply, forcing the authorities to advise people to stay indoors, shut down schools, ban all construction activity, and declare a “public health emergency”. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

2/11

A man walks past the India Gate engulfed in heavy smog, at Rajpath. According to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) 4pm bulletin, Delhi’s average air quality index (AQI) was at 484 — up from 410 the day before — while the concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 dust particles crossed “emergency” thresholds at midnight. In Noida, the AQI was 499, while it was 496 in Ghaziabad and 469 in Gurugram. (Biplov Bhuyan / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 02, 2019 7:37 PM

A man walks past the India Gate engulfed in heavy smog, at Rajpath. According to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) 4pm bulletin, Delhi’s average air quality index (AQI) was at 484 — up from 410 the day before — while the concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 dust particles crossed “emergency” thresholds at midnight. In Noida, the AQI was 499, while it was 496 in Ghaziabad and 469 in Gurugram. (Biplov Bhuyan / HT Photo)

3/11

A view of Humayun’s Tomb engulfed in dense smog. In four of 38 monitoring stations, the AQI readings topped out at 500 — the highest level that can be recorded. It was on November 9, 2017, when the AQI last crossed the level seen on Friday, having settled then at 486. (Amal KS / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 02, 2019 7:37 PM

A view of Humayun’s Tomb engulfed in dense smog. In four of 38 monitoring stations, the AQI readings topped out at 500 — the highest level that can be recorded. It was on November 9, 2017, when the AQI last crossed the level seen on Friday, having settled then at 486. (Amal KS / HT Photo)

4/11

“People are advised to ensure they minimise personal exposure to the outside air as far as possible and do not exercise in the open till pollution levels are reduced. In particular, minimise exposure of children, aged and vulnerable,” said an advisory issued by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (Epca). (Amal KS / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 02, 2019 7:37 PM

“People are advised to ensure they minimise personal exposure to the outside air as far as possible and do not exercise in the open till pollution levels are reduced. In particular, minimise exposure of children, aged and vulnerable,” said an advisory issued by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (Epca). (Amal KS / HT Photo)

5/11

A farmer burns paddy stubble at Chismani village in Ganaur city, on the outskirts of Sonipat. “Delhi has turned into a gas chamber due to smoke from crop burning in neighbouring states. It is very important that we protect ourselves from this toxic air,” chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a tweet on Friday morning. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 02, 2019 7:37 PM

A farmer burns paddy stubble at Chismani village in Ganaur city, on the outskirts of Sonipat. “Delhi has turned into a gas chamber due to smoke from crop burning in neighbouring states. It is very important that we protect ourselves from this toxic air,” chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a tweet on Friday morning. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

6/11

According to the Union government’s System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the share of pollutants from the farm fires — mostly ultra-fine PM2.5 particles — had shot up from 15% on Tuesday to 46% on Friday. Subsequently the Delhi CM announced that schools in Delhi will be shut till Tuesday following a recommendation from Epca. (Biplov Bhuyan / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 02, 2019 7:37 PM

According to the Union government’s System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the share of pollutants from the farm fires — mostly ultra-fine PM2.5 particles — had shot up from 15% on Tuesday to 46% on Friday. Subsequently the Delhi CM announced that schools in Delhi will be shut till Tuesday following a recommendation from Epca. (Biplov Bhuyan / HT Photo)

7/11

A boy lights a firecracker during Diwali celebrations, at Sector 27, in Noida. The actions come nearly at the end of a week that began with a toxic haze caused by illegal use of firecrackers on Diwali on October 27, made worse still by weather conditions that trapped them in the atmosphere and by smoke that drifted in from farm fires in Punjab and Haryana. (Sunil Ghosh / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 02, 2019 7:37 PM

A boy lights a firecracker during Diwali celebrations, at Sector 27, in Noida. The actions come nearly at the end of a week that began with a toxic haze caused by illegal use of firecrackers on Diwali on October 27, made worse still by weather conditions that trapped them in the atmosphere and by smoke that drifted in from farm fires in Punjab and Haryana. (Sunil Ghosh / HT Photo)

8/11

A view of the Central Park engulfed in heavy smog right after the night of Diwali celebrations, at Connaught Place. The Epca also ordered a complete ban on construction work, firecracker use, and activities of polluting industries such as stone-crushers. The order came amid growing criticism of the response mechanism — the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) — and a rule that says escalating curbs will apply only when pollution has been severe for more than 48 hours. (Sonu Mehta / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 02, 2019 7:37 PM

A view of the Central Park engulfed in heavy smog right after the night of Diwali celebrations, at Connaught Place. The Epca also ordered a complete ban on construction work, firecracker use, and activities of polluting industries such as stone-crushers. The order came amid growing criticism of the response mechanism — the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) — and a rule that says escalating curbs will apply only when pollution has been severe for more than 48 hours. (Sonu Mehta / HT Photo)

9/11

Rashtrapati Bhavan is seen at the background amid dense haze and low visibility due to rise in smog. According to officials, people in NCR will need to wait till the weather changes for any relief. “A western disturbance is approaching and this is expected to trigger some strong surface winds, which in turn would help flush out pollutants. Significant improvement is expected from Sunday onwards,” said a senior official of Safar. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 02, 2019 7:37 PM

Rashtrapati Bhavan is seen at the background amid dense haze and low visibility due to rise in smog. According to officials, people in NCR will need to wait till the weather changes for any relief. “A western disturbance is approaching and this is expected to trigger some strong surface winds, which in turn would help flush out pollutants. Significant improvement is expected from Sunday onwards,” said a senior official of Safar. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

10/11

A view of the Jama Masjid covered in dense smog. Delhi, meteorologists explained, is at present trapped in a cycle of pollution that blocks out the sun, which in turn makes the day temperatures cooler — a crucial factor that again leads to pollutants being trapped in the air. Once winds help clear some pollutants, more sunshine will aid in warming and, thus, clearing away more particles. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 02, 2019 7:37 PM

A view of the Jama Masjid covered in dense smog. Delhi, meteorologists explained, is at present trapped in a cycle of pollution that blocks out the sun, which in turn makes the day temperatures cooler — a crucial factor that again leads to pollutants being trapped in the air. Once winds help clear some pollutants, more sunshine will aid in warming and, thus, clearing away more particles. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

11/11

Beginning on Monday, odd-even road restrictions will apply in the capital. The government also announced that 42 agencies, including government departments, municipal corporations and the state election commission, will work in staggered office timings untill restrictions end on November 14. The crisis in Delhi also took a political turn, with chief minister Kejriwal demanding the Centre and the state governments of Punjab and Haryana come up with “specific timelines” to end the practice of farm fires. (Sanchit Khanna /HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 02, 2019 7:37 PM

Beginning on Monday, odd-even road restrictions will apply in the capital. The government also announced that 42 agencies, including government departments, municipal corporations and the state election commission, will work in staggered office timings untill restrictions end on November 14. The crisis in Delhi also took a political turn, with chief minister Kejriwal demanding the Centre and the state governments of Punjab and Haryana come up with “specific timelines” to end the practice of farm fires. (Sanchit Khanna /HT Photo)

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