Delhi’s toxic air wears out Sri Lankan pacer

Delhi’s toxic air had a debilitating impact on the ongoing Test match between India and Sri Lanka again on Tuesday with Lankan pacer Suranga Lakmal being escorted off the ground in Firoz Shah Kotla stadium after he vomited on the ground.

However, unlike Sunday, when the match was halted for over 20 minutes post-lunch, the match went on Tuesday. But Lankan players were seen wearing N95 anti-pollution masks on the field.

KK Aggarwal, president, Indian Medical Association (IMA), said, “Since Delhi’s climate is not favourable for any sports activity, we are making a draft and approaching the Indian cricket board, BCCI, on the matter. In our draft, we are trying to mention that pollution factor should also be the part of weather conditions for sport activities.”

Reacting to the development, the BCCI said it would factor in Delhi’s pollution before scheduling a match in the city at this time of the year.

“This point about scheduling matches in Delhi in this particular period can be considered in view of the situation encountered in the last two-three days,” acting BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary told reporters.

Pollution had prompted the BCCI to cancel two Ranji Trophy matches in Delhi last year. “As you are aware, the BCCI is sensitive about this fog and smog over the years when they scheduled domestic games out of Delhi...” Choudhary said.

Air quality in Delhi will remain unchanged, with high-level of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) across residential areas adding to the toxicity. The most harmful pollutants Particulate Matter (PM) 10 fluctuated between 300 and 339 micro cubic per gram (µgm-3) with the prescribed standards of PM 10 being 100 µgm-3.

The United Nations marked the day as the first international smog day with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) saying in a statement that it is a moment to remember all of the people who have died prematurely, and avoidably, because of air pollution.

According to weather experts, relief is expected after 48 rains as there is a prediction of light rain.

The concentration of NO2 breached the 24-hour safe limit of 80 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3) in areas like Dilshad Garden, ITO, Mandir Marg, Anand Vihar and RK Puram.

At RK Puram, a densely populated residential area, NO2 was recorded at 135 ug/m3 while levels at ITO, which witnesses heavy volume of traffic, was 206.

During the week, NO2 had climbed to levels as high as 195 at Anand Vihar while the same was 155 and 127 at RK Puram and Dilshad Garden, respectively.

According to the Central Control Room for Air Quality Management of the CPCB, the concentration of the most dominant pollutants, PM2.5 and PM10, were 261 and 438 ug/m3 around 5 pm.

Pollution is considered severe plus or emergency when readings of PM2.5 and PM10 cross 300 and 500 ug/m3, respectively. The corresponding prescribed standards are 60 and 100. Six out of the CPCB’s 17 stations had ‘severe’ quality air, which affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing respiratory or cardiovascular diseases, by 6 pm.