At AQI of 499, Fatehabad, Hisar air quality worse than Delhi’s

KARNAL: The air quality of Fatehabad and Hisar is worse than the national capital of Delhi. With air quality index (AQI) of 499, which fell in ‘severe’ category, the cities had the worst air quality in Haryana. It was followed by Jind (477) and Kaithal (412) and Faridabad (400). Delhi was at 448.
Panipat recorded AQI at 389, followed by Gurugram (393), Kurukshetra (391), Bhiwani (391), Ambala (387), Palwal (378), Rohtak (378), Karnal (356), Yamunanagar (344) .All nine were fell in ‘very poor’ category.
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Jind was the most polluted city in Haryana with the AQI at 480 on Friday, but the same came down on Saturday. On the other hand, the AQI of Fatehabad was recorded at 386 on Friday, which rose to 493 on Saturday, reaching ‘severe’ level.
Haryana State Pollution Control Board scientist Sunil Sheoran said AQI levels at Hisar and Fatehabad were at most dangerous level so far this year and is harmful to health.
The polluted air is extremely hazardous to health and has been linked to a number of medical conditions. People can get irritation in the eyes and also find it difficult to breath. According to physicians, such levels of AQI may cause respiratory impact even on healthy people, and serious health impacts on people with lung and heart diseases. The health impacts may be experienced even during light physical activity.
The AQI is calculated based on eight parameters. These include PM (particulate matter) 10, PM 2.5, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, ammonia gas and lead. If the range of AQI is 0 to 50, it is normal and 51 to 100 considered satisfactory. Similarly, normal pollution from 101 to 200, from 201 to 300 is bad, from 301 to 400 is very bad and from 400 to 500 is considered sever condition.
Sheoran said the reason for increase of AQI included burning of firecrackers, burning of garbage and other pollution on Diwali, besides burning of crop residue in the fields.
He added, “At this time of the year, the speed of air is negligible and the humidity is high. Hence pollution is hanging in the air. Meteorologists have expressed hope that it is likely to rain by November 5 that will provide us with some relief.”
Meanwhile, on Friday 52 fire incidents were recorded by the Haryana State Remote Sensing Centre. Whereas on Thursday and Wednesday, the fire incidents were 77 and 233, respectively.
The total number of field fires in the state has reached 4,340 for the period between September 25 and October 31.
Kaithal district remained on the top in the state with 914 cases, followed by Karnal at 893, Kurushetra at 694, Fatehabad at 612, Ambala at 317 and Jind at 226. No case of active fire locations has been reported in Nuh district. The others districts like Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Gurugram, Rohtak, Faridabad, Mahendergath and Rewari have reported 2-5 active fire locations.
Deputy director (agriculture) Aditya Dabas said the number of active fire locations had been reducing by the day. The government also instructed the farmers not to burn crop residue. To implement this order, CrPC Section 144 has imposed.