One of the few good things that happened during the coronavirus induced lockdown was that nature was healing. From animals reclaiming their territories to rivers looking cleaner and clearer, the environment was thriving in absence of human activities and industries.
During the lockdown, the state of Delhi, which was once ranked no.1 in the world in terms of air pollution, enjoyed blue skies and record-clean air too. However, the air quality in the national capital has fallen again in November due to the stubble burning rituals, reports News18. The activity has reduced the visibility and subsequently increased the pollutants in the air as well.
Delhi: Air quality in the 'severe' category at Anand Vihar pic.twitter.com/oHVHluScu2
— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2020
The wind speeds in the capital and neighboring cities of NCR have dropped to the lowest speed of 5kmph. It has also lead to an accumulation of pollutants near the surface. According to SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research) and India Meteorological Department (IMD), the air quality will remain ‘severe’ till Wednesday.
A tale of the same city: Picture on the left was taken on 1st September and the one on the right was taken today.#DelhiPollution #DelhiAirQuality pic.twitter.com/cgUb4qy0q9
— Shubhrata Prakash (@shubhrata_p) November 9, 2020
Many concerned residents took to social media to share visuals of the deplorable air quality in the state:
10th November (64 MP camera) vs 2 nd june ( 8 MP camera) …still visibility is much better than current.. pic.twitter.com/WpbyuWFDXo
— JITENDRA DAYMA (@JitendraDayma) November 9, 2020
#DelhiPollution #DelhiAirQuality #Delhi 😨😨darr lag raha h ab to pic.twitter.com/6x5WZXr7CE
— Arti janotriya (@AJanotriya) November 10, 2020
Indian Airpocalypse 2020 begins New Delhi, India. pic.twitter.com/bOXLwZ2DDu
— Danish Siddiqui (@dansiddiqui) November 9, 2020
The kind of air we should be breathing vs what we are taking in now #DelhiPollution pic.twitter.com/8h3DLZkU7t
— Debarshi Dasgupta (@sanitydurast) November 9, 2020
How it started how is it going!🤦🏼#DelhiAirQuality #DelhiPollution pic.twitter.com/b7eExQbGhH
— Nikhil (@NikhilPanjwanii) November 10, 2020
#DelhiPollution has increased too much😨 #DelhiAirQuality #Delhi pic.twitter.com/NbnVsGLENQ
— Arti janotriya (@AJanotriya) November 10, 2020
Others found comfort by sharing memes about the current situation of Delhi:
Delhi air pollution 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/yqirN41DbB
— Rahul R:) (@rajItself) November 10, 2020
people in delhi to each other in standing 2 feet apart pic.twitter.com/IKil1L1jB9
— Akshar (@AksharPathak) November 9, 2020
#Delhi people since lockdown#coronavirus #DelhiPollution #DelhiAirQuality pic.twitter.com/EVS8wiEJzU
— Adhip Varma (@adp228) November 10, 2020
Pollution peeping inside the homes of people in Delhi : pic.twitter.com/vpujMFoIxW
— Dhawan Cricketer (@DhawanCricketr) November 9, 2020
#DelhiAirQuality#DelhiPollution
Story of every winters :
> Irritation In Eyes
> Breathlessness
> Sore/Itchy Throat
> Low visibility due to smogDelhiites be like : pic.twitter.com/mZOsPc6UwV
— Namrata (@Just_Anoth_Girl) November 10, 2020
Delhi pollution right now!!#DelhiAirQuality pic.twitter.com/YdvaJ7cTNK
— Ssrfan (@Ssrfan478780364) November 5, 2020
A few days back, the Supreme Court had even suggested to lawyers that it’s time to take out bicycles and stop using cars in order to curb air pollution. Well, we hope the air quality of the state improves soon.