New Delhi: The IMD has warned that dense fog is likely in the morning hours on Wednesday over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, North Rajasthan and few places in West Uttar Pradesh, ANI reported.
Delhi's air quality was at the season's worst on Tuesday as a combined effect of smoke from stubble burning and moisture turned the city into a "gas chamber" leaving people gasping and prompting authorities to announce the closure of primary schools and a four-fold hike in parking fees among a series of sweeping measures.
Poor visibility hampered flight operations, leading to delays in the schedule of over 300 flights by up to two hours as only one of the three runways could be used while around 25 Delhi-bound trains were delayed.
With a score of 448 on a scale of 500, the air quality index was in the 'severe' category for the second time this year. However, when Diwali fireworks had triggered high pollution October 20, the AQI index was had a lower reading at 403.
The Indian Medical Association said the capital was witnessing a "public health emergency" and appealed to the government to stop outdoor sports and other such activities in schools to protect the health of children.
The Delhi government also issued a health advisory for high-risk people, including children, the elderly, pregnant women and those suffering from asthma and heart ailments.
In the evening, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced that primary schools in the national capital will remain closed on Wednesday.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Delhi has become a gas chamber. Every year this happens during this part of year. We have to find a solution to crop burning in adjoining states."
Delhi has become a gas chamber. Every year this happens during this part of year. We have to find a soln to crop burning in adjoining states
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 7, 2017
The National Green Tribunal took the governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana to task, seeking to know why steps to prevent steps were not taken despite knowing well in advance that such a situation was likely to arise.
The Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, empowered to enforce the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to contain emergency levels of pollution, announced that all measures under the plan's severe category will be implemented across the region till further notice.
It also directed the states in the region to start preparing for implementing measures like 'odd-even' in light of the "crisis situation".
(With PTI inputs)
