New Delhi: Delhi continues to struggle to breathe. Delhiites have been waking up to dense unrelenting smog that is choking and making visibility difficult. The air quality of the city was measured as ‘hazardous’ for the second day in a row as the pollutants in the air crossed the permissible standards by 42 times. Data gathered by the pollution monitors reported that the air quality in the city is not suitable to breathe for long hours. Doctors and the top medical body, the Indian Medical Association has called for the situation to be declared a ‘public health emergency’, as the air quality in the capital city plunged to levels equivalent to smoking at least 50 cigarettes in a single day.
The world of social media erupted with reactions highlighting the poor state of affairs in the nation’s capital.
Boxer Vijender Singh tweeted a picture of himself spporting a mask with a message – ‘What has happened to this world?’
Ke banu duniya da #DelhiSmog ???? pic.twitter.com/2rhZ78G3Yo
— Vijender Singh (@boxervijender) November 8, 2017
While actor Arjun Kapoor, expressed his concern towards Delhi smog and urged everyone to come together and work out solutions, he added, It’s disconcerting to see the city suffocating. We need to put politics and personal agendas aside stopping the blame game & come together to find a solution otherwise all of us are gonna be affected in more ways than we realise.
He further added, “I hope & pray the people who are assigned the job of finding long term solutions activately seek & put them into action soon. As citizens we shouldn’t feel paranoid about the air we breathe. Our capital is suffering & we are all to blamed but now is the time to right our wrongs.”
I hope & pray the people who are assigned the job of finding long term solutions activately seek & put them into action soon. As citizens we shouldn’t feel paranoid about the air we breathe. Our capital is suffering & we are all to blamed but now is the time to right our wrongs.
— arjunk26 (@arjunk26) November 8, 2017
Highlighting there is a need for everyone to come together to beat Air Pollution, Actor Dia Mirza said, “Makes our need to come together to #BeatPollution more urgent than ever before. #MyRightToBreathe #smogindelhi #AirPollution.”
Makes our need to come together to #BeatPollution more urgent than ever before. #MyRightToBreathe #smogindelhi #AirPollution https://t.co/1JHCVfs9E5
— Dia Mirza (@deespeak) November 8, 2017
Theater Actor Anshuman Jha wrote, “Is this the state we wish to leave the world in for the future generations? Lets not just keep worrying & genuinely do something about this #smogindelhi @ArvindKejriwal #DelhiNCR”
#Scary Just landed at Delhi & got home. To the sight of this. Is this the state we wish to leave the world in for the future generations? Lets not just keep worrying & genuinely do something about this #smogindelhi @ArvindKejriwal #DelhiNCR pic.twitter.com/mOHkuedWEk
— Anshuman Jha (@theanshumanjha) November 8, 2017
Film Director Shekhar Kapur posted a message that called for introspection, “The air you pollute, others breathe. What u consume, others pay for. With their health #smogindelhi #pollution #DelhiSmog”
What you pollute, others breathe. What u consume, others pay for. With their health #smogindelhi #pollution #DelhiSmog
— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) November 8, 2017
Actor Shraddha Kapoor raised the question on the role of individuals when it comes to tackling air pollution and said,, “#SmogInDelhi is upsetting but are we doing our bit? Are we doing enough for the betterment of our city/country/planet?”
#SmogInDelhi is upsetting but what are we all doing?Are we doing our bit?Are we doing enough for the betterment of our city/country/planet?
— Shraddha (@ShraddhaKapoor) November 8, 2017
Urging people to act on Air Pollution, Actor Sonam Kapoor added, “The #SmogInDelhi has become unbearable and it’s affecting each one of us. We need to start doing something and fast. Carpool, don’t burn garbage and be judicious with your resources. Stay safe Delhi!”
The #SmogInDelhi has become unbearable and it's affecting each one of us. We need to start doing something and fast. Carpool, don't burn garbage and be judicious with your resources. Stay safe Delhi!
— Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) November 8, 2017
It is a wake up call according to actor Parineeti Chopra, who through her Instagram posted, “Can’t believe we have let things go so out of hand that human beings don’t have air to breathe to anymore. Can’t imagine the situation for kids and elders. Please guys, lets all WAKE UP. We cannot be doing this to our planet. #DelhiSmog”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbOtC4ql0Kv/?hl=en&taken-by=parineetichopra
While Celebrities expressed concern, ordinary citizens too were horrified at Delhi’s struggle for air to breathe.
Can't breathe anymore #smogindelhi #GasChamber #DelhiSmog #poison #delhiAirpollution #DelhiChokes #delhipollution pic.twitter.com/Uz6uq9BO5S
— Mebin Mathew (@HippyTrippyMeby) November 8, 2017
Heavy smog in NCR. View from my apartment. #smogindelhi Feeling like living above the clouds. Zero visibility on ground. Alarming situation pic.twitter.com/KO12Ja1Dbr
— Mridul Maurya (@MridulMaurya) November 8, 2017
ये दिल्ली की धुंध नही हमारी अनदेखी है। हमारे आंखों की धुंध है जो पर्यावरण के दोहन को नही देख पा रहे है। अभी नही चेते तो जिंदगी और भयावह हो जाएगी।#AirPollution #smog #smogindelhi pic.twitter.com/GG88Sh1NqK
— Adv B P Singh (@Bheemvrat) November 8, 2017
No matter if there's a will, there's still no way in Delhi. This at 8:30 am#smog #smogindelhi #choked pic.twitter.com/XzhiGAQWXR
— ruchi kokcha (@ruchikokcha) November 8, 2017
Sis Ganj which can barely be seen. What all places in #Delhi have you come across? Write back to us! #DelhiSmog pic.twitter.com/qIJaGPWqN7
— Delhi Walks® (@DelhiWalks) November 8, 2017
The Killer Smog: Health Impact
Smog can lead to the onset of number of allergies or aggravate existing allergies. It may also decrease lung immunity and function across age groups.
Moreover, Smog can also aggravate pre-existing lung and cardiac functions along with uncontrollable or chronic coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.
Also Read: People Rush To Buy Masks, Doctors Apprehensive About Their Efficacy
