A layer of smog blankets Hapur, Uttar Pradesh this morning. Several area in nothern India including Delhi, Bihar, Haryana remains under the heavy smog today. Air Quality Index is at 491 (severe) at Anand Vihar, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
Delhiites woke up to a smoggy morning today as the minimum temperature settled at 18.9 degrees Celsius, four notches above the season’s average. The official forecast mainly clear skies with shallow fog in the morning and strong surface winds during day with a speed of 20-25 kmph.
After Delhi, all schools up to Class 12 are closed in the National Capital Region till Tuesday following spike in pollution level.
Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said, “I want to appeal to the people of Delhi that since there is a blanket of smog covering northern India due to stubble burning we need to look into it….if we follow the odd even in the next few days it will help in bringing down the pollution level. We need to do this for our children and future generations.”
Meanwhile Congress MP Manish Tewari said, “If stubble burning is the problem then has anyone asked the farmer why does he burn stubble? The shroud that envelopes Delhi is the shroud a farmer wears on a daily basis.” He added that if people want clean air then they have to pay attention to farmers.