Kanpur: The overall air quality of Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur has plunged into the ‘poor’ category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 214, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)-India. After being in the ‘moderate’ category earlier this week, with an AQI of 166, the air quality has slipped into the ‘poor’ category. Visuals from various locations across Kanpur showed a thick fog and haze surrounding parts of the city.
As air quality deteriorates, people have started complaining of facing health problems. Sushil Kumar, a local resident, while speaking to ANI.
We are experiencing irritation in the eyes and respiratory issues. The smog might not be highly visible, but pollution is present.
Another local resident, Brajesh, said,
We are now compelled to wear masks due to the pollution that is causing respiratory problems.
Also Read: Uttar Pradesh: People Suffer As Kanpur Chokes On Smog
The national capital is also grappling with the worsening air quality. The overall air quality in Delhi continued to remain in the ‘poor’ category for the third straight day on Saturday morning, as per the SAFAR-India.
According to the SAFAR-India, the overall air quality in the national capital is in the ‘poor’ category with an AQI of 286. After being in the ‘moderate’ category with an AQI of 190 on Wednesday, the city’s AQI has been in the ‘poor’ category since then with 256 on Thursday and 249 on Friday.
Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool for effective communication of air quality status to people in terms, which are easy to understand. It transforms complex air quality data of various pollutants into a single number (index value), nomenclature, and colour.
The AQI from 0 to 100 is considered good, while from 100 to 200 it is moderate, from 200 to 300 it is poor, and from 300 to 400 it is said to be very poor and from 400 to 500 or above it is considered as severe.
Also Read: Delhi Air Quality Plunges Into ‘Poor’ Category With Air Quality Index Of 245
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
