Page 12 - Air Pollution

Air quality turns 'severe' in Delhi as smog thickens; AQI crosses 400 mark

Stubble smoke, low humidity and stagnant winds have trapped pollutants close to the surface, worsening Delhi's smog, with conditions expected to deteriorate further over the next 48 hours

Punjab records 283 stubble burning cases, highest single-day spike

Punjab on Wednesday saw the season's highest single-day spike in stubble burning with 283 instances, official data showed. The latest addition took the total farm fire count since September 15 to 1,216. Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Sangrur and Ferozepur districts accounted for the bulk of crop residue burning cases, according to Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) data, as many farmers continued to disregard the state government's appeal to not set the crop residue on fire According to the data, the highest farm fire incidents were reported from Tarn Taran at 296, followed by Amritsar, 173, Sangrur, 170, Ferozepur, 123, Patiala, 73, Bathinda, 61, and Kapurthala at 48. Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is often blamed for the rise in air pollution in Delhi-NCR. As the window for the Rabi crop, wheat, is very short after paddy harvest in October-November, some farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off crop residues. According to PPCB data, the total area under paddy ...

Air purifier sales surge as Delhi-NCR battles severe air pollution

With Delhi-NCR in the grip of severe air pollution, sales of air purifiers have spiked and the number of enquiries gone up, especially after Diwali. The air-purifier category, which is yet to achieve a scale and expand beyond metropolitan areas, routinely witnesses a spike in sales around Diwali, when the AQI (air quality index) worsens. Delhi's air quality improved slightly on Wednesday morning but remained in the "poor" category with an overall AQI of 273, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). On Tuesday, the city recorded an AQI of 294 at 4 pm, a marginal drop from Monday's reading of 301, which fell under the "very poor" category. Demand for air purifiers picked up sharply from early October, ahead of Diwali. We have seen strong traction across omnichannel platforms, with retail continuing to play a pivotal role in driving offtake, Eureka Forbes Chief Growth Officer Anurag Kumar told PTI. Eureka Forbes has witnessed a high double-digit year-on-year growth f

Delhi's air quality remains 'very poor' despite cloud seeding trials

With several hotspots across Delhi clocking an AQI over 300, authorities have tightened vehicle entry norms and intensified monitoring amid rising winter pollution

From despair to action: How India can put an end to stubble burning

It is not a utopian vision, but a pragmatic and achievable goal over the next three years

Pakistan's Lahore chokes as toxic smog makes it world's most polluted city

Dawn reported that several monitoring stations recorded air quality levels in the 'hazardous' category, with some areas facing emergency conditions

Delhi's air quality remains 'very poor' as govt seeks cloud seeding trial

The capital's AQI today morning was 305 with haze and cloudy skies, as authorities prepare for the first cloud seeding experiment to trigger artificial rain and reduce air pollution

Delhi gears up for first cloud seeding experiment to fight air pollution

The experiment, in collaboration with IIT Kanpur and the IMD, aims to trigger artificial rainfall and curb worsening air pollution as the capital braces for its peak winter smog season

122 stubble burning incidents on Sunday mark highest single-day spike

Punjab witnessed 743 stubble burning incidents from September 15 till October 26, with 122 cases on Sunday marking the highest single-day spike this season, official data showed. Tarn Taran and Amritsar districts contributed the bulk of cases, according to Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) data, as many farmers continued to disregard the state government's appeal to stop crop residue burning. The state has seen a sharp jump in stubble-burning cases in the past week, from 353 cases recorded till October 20 to 390, the data showed. According to the data, the highest farm fire incidents were reported from Tarn Taran at 224, followed by Amritsar 154, Ferozepur 80, Sangrur 47, Patiala 39, Gurdaspur 38, and Kapurthala 29. Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is often blamed for the rise in air pollution in Delhi-NCR. As the window for the Rabi crop, wheat, is very short after paddy harvest in October-November, some farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off crop ...

As Delhi-NCR grapples with rising pollution, air purifier sales spike

Electronics retailers report a sharp rise in footfalls and bulk buying as consumers rush to brands like Philips, Dyson and Eureka Forbes amid worsening air quality

India's air pollution crisis full-blown assault on brains, bodies: Congress

The Congress on Sunday said India's air pollution crisis is no longer just a respiratory issue but a full-blown assault on our brains and bodies, as it called for radically revising the National Clean Air Programme and urgently updating the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh asserted that air pollution is a public health catastrophe and a national security threat to our society, healthcare system, and future workforce. "India's air pollution crisis is no longer just a respiratory issue. It's now a full-blown assault on our brains and bodies," the former environment minister said on X. In 2023, approximately 2 million deaths in India were linked to air pollution - a 43% jump since 2000, Ramesh pointed out. Nearly 9 in 10 of these deaths were attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes and now even dementia, he said India records around 186 air-pollution deaths per

Lahore tops world's pollution chart as overall AQI hits hazardous 412

Environmental experts have urged residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activity, particularly in the morning and evening, and to wear masks when outside

Delhi AQI improves slightly but in 'poor' category; respiratory cases rise

Doctors urge vulnerable individuals should avoid outdoor exposure, wear N95 masks, and continue their prescribed medications

Delhi-NCR air quality slightly improves but remains 'very poor' at 292

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had imposed Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the National Capital Region with immediate effect

Luxe breathes easy: Clean air homes are in demand amid rising air pollution

Premiums rise as AQI-assured homes attract eco-conscious buyers

Stubble burning cases in Punjab cross 500 despite govt efforts: PPCB data

Punjab recorded 28 fresh stubble burning incidents on Thursday, taking the total farm fire count to 512 since September 15, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) data showed. The state saw a jump of 324 crop residue burning incidents from the 188 cases recorded till October 16, the data further showed. According to the data, the highest number of farm fires were reported in Tarn Taran at 159, followed by Amritsar at 133, Ferozepur 58, Patiala 32 and Gurdaspur 25, as many farmers continue to ignore government appeals to stop crop residue burning. Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is often blamed for the rise in air pollution in Delhi-NCR. As the window for the Rabi crop, wheat, is very short after paddy harvest in October and November, some farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue. Fines amounting to Rs 13.25 lakh have been imposed as environmental compensation in 246 cases so far, according to PPCB data. Of the total fine, Rs 8.95 lakh has been ..

Delhi's air quality remains 'very poor' days after Diwali celebrations

Delhi-NCR continued to choke as AQI remained high, with Anand Vihar's AQI at 428; GRAP Stage-II measures remain in force amid weak winds and limited pollutant dispersion

Taking stock: Delhi's air stays toxic for a second consecutive day

The region has witnessed a spike in air pollution levels following incessant cracker burning on Diwali night (October 20).

Punjab saw 415 farm fires from Sep 15 to Oct 21, down from 1,510 last year

Punjab recorded 415 incidents of farm fire between September 15 and October 21, down from 1,510 cases reported during the same period last year, according to data compiled by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). The data showed that the number of farm fires recorded during this period in 2023 was 1,764. The sharp drop comes amid a delayed paddy harvest as rains lashed the state until the first week of October. Damage caused by floods also delayed the crop harvest at some places. Officials say stricter field monitoring and awareness campaigns, telling farmers about the ill-effects of stubble burning, have also had an impact. A statement issued by the Punjab government said the sustained and rigorous efforts by the civil administration and police to prevent stubble burning have yielded significant results, with the state witnessing a nearly-four-fold reduction in farm-fire cases this year, compared to the same period in the previous two years. According to the PPCB data, the t

Hospitals see spike in respiratory cases; air pollution may worsen in NCR

Delhi-NCR hospitals report a sharp spike in breathing-related cases as air quality turns 'severe' after Diwali; doctors expect numbers to rise in coming days