North India facing medical emergency due to stubble burning: Atishi

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi attributed the hazardous air quality in north India to stubble burning in BJP-ruled states. She commended Punjab, governed by AAP, for reducing stubble burning incidents, while criticizing the BJP for inaction. Delhi's air quality reached 'severe plus' levels, prompting stricter pollution control measures.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Monday said north India is facing a medical emergency due to hazardous air quality caused by stubble burning. Addressing a press conference here, Atishi said the BJP-led central government has been doing politics over the issue of pollution but has taken no step to check stubble burning in states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh -- all ruled by the saffron party. Lauding the AAP-ruled Punjab, she said it is the only state where the cases of stubble burning have come down significantly.

In BJP-ruled states, they have gone up, she claimed. Atishi said due to Delhi's worsening air quality, the elderly are being hospitalised and children need inhalers and steroids to breathe. Delhi's air quality worsened to the 'severe plus' category on Monday with the city recording an AQI of 484.

Tighter pollution control measures, including a ban on truck entry and suspension of construction at public projects, came into force in the morning. The dense toxic smog caused visibility to drop sharply in the morning. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel ).