Delhi's Air Becomes Breathable After Janata Curfew Took Effect

According to IQAir, a Swiss firm, India dominates the list of most polluted countries in the world with half of the cities on the list are in the country. This comes down to the massive number of vehicles cramming the streets every day.

However, as PM Modi imposed a compulsory curfew on most major cities in the country starting Sunday, the situation has been improving greatly. With 75 states locked down, the cars, buses, rickshaws that often fill the streets are now nowhere to be seen, causing Delhi’s air quality to improve.

Yesterday, the air quality index for New Delhi is 93, which is considered moderate. When the number is lower than 50, the air quality is considered good.

According to IQAir, the air in New Delhi has long been considered unhealthy. In March last year, the city’s AQI stood at 161.

In Mumbai, the financial capital, the levels are now around 90, in comparison with 153 in March, 2019. As stated by a study on Lancet Planetary Health, the air pollution in India is the cause of 1.24 million d.e.a.t.h.s in 2017.

As stated by Dr. Gufran Beig, SAFAR’s project director (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research), this drop is because of the reduction in the volume of traffic.

With the Janata Curfew taking its effect, skyscrapers which are usually shrouded in smog now become visible. People also report seeing more stars.

According to Francis Braganza, a 74-year-old retired sea captain, when he and his wife went for a walk, they felt that they could breathe easier than usual. Braganza’s wife suffers from chronic breathing problems, which he said was caused by the high level of pollution.

Some experts even said that there was a link between air pollution and respiratory infections, which includes COVID-19 caused by the Coronavirus.

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