. | . |
Delhi battling dual crises of pollution and coronavirus by Staff Writers New Delhi (AFP) Nov 5, 2020 India's capital is reeling from the double impact of the coronavirus and severe air pollution, New Delhi's chief minister warned Thursday, as the megacity reported a record jump in cases and its worst smog in a year. With fears growing about rising infections, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also banned firecrackers from being used this month during Diwali, the biggest festival on the Hindu calendar. The air quality index -- measuring the tiny particles which enter the bloodstream and vital organs -- was at its most dangerous since last November, according to the state-run System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). The toxic haze blanketing Delhi, which regularly turns the city of 20 million people into the world's most-polluted, came as officials late Wednesday reported a new daily-high of 6,842 virus infections in the capital. And the filthy air is actually driving more cases of Covid-19, Kejriwal told an online briefing. "The corona situation is worsening because of pollution," he said, echoing medical analysis which says existing illnesses caused by poor air quality could make people more vulnerable to the coronavirus. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, of the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, told AFP: "Some global studies have already shown how the effect of the pandemic is higher in more polluted regions." And Santosh Harish, at the Delhi-based Center for Policy Research, said: "Evidence from previous related infections and emerging research suggest that pollution exposure could increase severity of the infection, and the transmission of the virus." - More crop burning - Kejriwal blamed the choking smoke on agricultural burning, saying regional state governments were not helping farmers to find alternative ways to clear their fields. "We will come together to celebrate Diwali without crackers. If we burst crackers, we are affecting the lives of our family and our children," he added. The cracker frenzy usually turns Delhi's grey winter skies into a putrid yellow. Every winter, Delhi is blanketed by haze from a build-up of vehicle fumes, industrial emissions and smoke from agricultural fires in regions around the capital. The pollution is exacerbated by cooler temperatures and slow-moving winds that trap pollutants over the city. SAFAR said Thursday that crop stubble burning in states near the capital was the highest this season with some 4,135 fires. India is the world's second most-infected nation after the United States with more than 8.3 million Covid-19 cases. Healthcare systems, already stretched by the pandemic, could be further stressed by more hospitalisations from pollution-related illnesses, researchers say.
Turkey ends quake rescue mission Ankara (AFP) Nov 4, 2020 Turkey on Wednesday called off its search and rescue mission, five days after a powerful earthquake hit the Aegean Sea, killing 116 people in western Turkey and Greece. The 7.0-magnitude quake struck on Friday off the Turkish town of Seferihisar, becoming the deadliest disaster in Turkey in nearly 10 years. The Turkish disaster agency AFAD said on Wednesday 114 people had died and more than 1,000 were injured. Two teenagers were also killed in Greece. "The work of search and rescue teams has ... read more
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |