AIIMS Health Advisory Downplays Pollution Crisis, Says Delhi Air is 'Changing'
The Wire Staff
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New Delhi: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has issued a public health advisory on how to protect your health amid the rapidly rising air pollution, especially in the national capital, even as it downplayed the crisis by saying: “The air we breathe is changing.”
In a video statement posted on X by AIIMS, Delhi, Dr Harshal Ramesh Salve, an additional professor at the Centre for Community Medicine, lists a number of ways to avoid breathing in the toxic air.
“We are seeing rising air pollution in the entire Delhi NCR,” he says, continuing with the first point he makes: “Be indoors during peak pollution level. Early morning till 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM, air pollution level is high. So it is advisable to stay indoors.”
The air pollution in the national capital region plummeted after Diwali, on October 20, as has been the annual situation around this time of the year. This year, the Supreme Court went a step further permitting the bursting of ‘green’ firecrackers on Diwali, which are supposed to produce only 30% less emissions than normal firecrackers.
Also read: A Diwali Of Epic Proportions: Delhi Pollution This Year Was Highest Compared To Last Four Years
The day after Diwali, most of the regions in Delhi reported an air quality index of over 400m, i.e. in the ‘severe’ category, the final stage on the AQI scale. As per reports, the city-wide AQI averaged 451 at 7 am on October 21. Emergency measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) II have been effected since October 19.
It remained in the ‘very poor’ category, i.e. above 300, for several days afterwards, before marginally improving to the ‘poor’ category.
In the video, Dr Salve suggests choosing indoor workouts over outdoor exercises and to install air purifiers “if you can afford”.
Dr Salve went on to advise avoiding “heavy congestion” and “traffic areas” for walking and cycling, having at least one “petroleum free day” and wearing N95 masks for protection from exposure to particulate matter.
Also read: As Diwali Pollution Chokes Delhi, Right Wing’s Celebration Takes a Toxic Turn on Social Media
While these advices can somewhat help protect an individual’s health from the toxic air outside, a previous report on The Wire has noted how for a vast majority of Delhi’s marginalised population, such protection is out of reach. For many, the cost of a basic air purifier equates to about 15 days’ wages for many, making it an unattainable luxury.
The advisory also focuses on short term fixes rather than long term measures required to change the year-to-year crisis the capital witnesses.
Notably, on October 28, Delhi witnessed its first ever cloud seeding trial as a special aircraft took off from Kanpur for the trial, conducted over certain parts of Delhi, including Burari and Karol Bagh.
At least nine such trials were planned, according to Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
The exercise so far has failed to cause rain.
This article went live on November fifth, two thousand twenty five, at twenty-five minutes past seven in the evening.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.