New Delhi: As pollution levels in Delhi-NCR peaked to a three-year high, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) even reaching 999 mark, in the ‘hazardous’ category, the Director General of Health Service (DGHS) on Monday issued a health advisory asking people to stay indoors.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, DGHS Dr. Ashok Kumar said, "We have issued a health advisory asking the general public, particularly the vulnerable ones, to adopt maximum precautions to stay fit and avoid exposing themselves to pollution."
The health advisory issued by DGHS said that the air pollution had reached "severe" levels in Delhi.
"It (the pollution) may result in morbidity among the exposed people," the advisory said.
The air pollution may cause respiratory illness among healthy people as well if exposed to it for too long. It may cause respiratory or other serious illnesses among the vulnerable population even with short exposure, the advisory said.
Elaborating on the vulnerable category of people, the health advisory read, "Vulnerable means elderly, children below five years of age, pregnant women, persons with poor nutritional status."
The advisory further asked people to use clean and smokeless fuel or electricity for cooking and heating purposes.
A thick blanket of smog engulfed several parts of the national capital on Monday, with the overall AQI in Delhi still in the ‘severe’ category.
Several flights were diverted and more delayed due to poor visibility at Delhi airport. Schools in the capital will remain closed till Tuesday, as a public health emergency was declared.
Also read: State govts responsible for Delhi air Pollution: SC
The third edition of odd-even scheme road space rationing scheme kicked in from 8 am today, with only even-numbered non-transport vehicles allowed on Delhi roads on the first day.
Meanwhile, the Arvind Kejriwal government continues to take measures to tackle the severe air pollution such as sprinkling water on roads to settle the dust.
