The past two days (December 1 and November 30) saw a spike in air-pollution levels in Noida, causing poor visiblity and respiratory issues among residents. With the forecast of low wind speed in the coming days, conditions are not about to get better anytime soon.
The PM 10 levels over the past two days were recorded at 387 microns, while the PM 2.5 value was 333 microns (six times higher than safe levels). As a comparison, the PM 10 and PM 2.5 levels during Diwali were 827 microns and 580 microns respectively.
According to information received from the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting in Sector 62, the sudden dip in temperature has caused an increase in humidity, which in turn has caused the city to be shrouded in fog.
The pollution has triggered sporadic cases of minor respiratory problems in the city. Hospitals have reported a 10 per cent hike in such cases. According to doctors, it is important to take precautions while being exposed to the smog.
Ram Rati, a resident of Sector 11 and mother of two, said her children had trouble breathing and had to be rushed to hospital.
Ramesh Singh, a resident of Sector 31, said he had been suffering from throat issues over the past two days. "The problem was not getting better, so I had to go to a hospital to get mysaelf checked," he added.
When asked about the precautions to be taken during smog, doctors said people should avoid early-morning walks and wear masks while venturing out.
VP Singh, a Noida-based general surgeon, said people suffering from respiratory problems should wear masks while outside and consult a doctor immediately in case of any discomfort in breathing.
