A thick layer of toxic smoke blanketed the skies of Delhi and many cities surrounding the National Capital Region on Thursday, disrupting flight operations and train schedules. While hospitals continue to see a steady increase in the number of patients reporting health problems related to air pollution, many residents have complained of coughs and breathing problems.

The average air quality index continued to rise above 400. According to the Central Pollution Control Board’s Sameer app, the worst air quality was recorded in Delhi’s Patparganj with an AQI of 470 (“severe plus”) as of 11 am on Thursday.

Bhayender, a resident of the area, said that their daily activities were affected due to increasing pollution levels. “Pollution has increased. We are facing respiratory problems and eye irritation. Earlier, we used to go for a run, but now we cannot even do that,” he told news agency ANI.

Raunak, a school student, blamed the public for the lack of cooperation. “I go running every day. However, with the increase in pollution these days, I am constantly coughing, which can also affect my lungs. The problem can be solved if pollution is controlled and CNG vehicles are used more. But there is no cooperation from the public,” Raunak said.

Dr Arvind Kumar, from Medanta Hospital, Thoracic Onco Surgery and Lung Transplantation, said that increasing air pollution is causing serious damage to people’s health. “It’s the same story every year,” the doctor said, while expressing his displeasure at the government’s alleged indifference.

“When you breathe such air, your throat becomes blocked… Now all kinds of pneumonia patients come to all intensive care units. You talk to pediatricians; clinics are overflowing with children with breathing problems. “Go into any home, kids are coughing, adults are coughing,” Dr. added. Gambling.

Game blaming air pollution in Delhi

Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party chief Virendra Sachdeva accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of not finding ways to manage road dust or waste generation in Delhi. “This government is only interested in event management. Have they made any environmental plans for Delhi in the last 10 years? PM 2.5 is the biggest cause this season and is caused by dust. Roads in Delhi were damaged. The Supreme Court also said that 3100 tons of CNG waste was released into the environment without treatment. They don’t have the tools to treat it,” the BJP leader told ANI while wearing a mask.

Congress leader Mumtaz Patel blamed the tussle between the BJP-led Center and AAP for creating trouble for the people of Delhi.

“When the AAP government came to power in Delhi, if there was an AAP government in Punjab, they would have said that they would solve the stubble burning problem. The AAP government is trying to make fools of the people. They don’t do any work. “When the Congress government was in Delhi, there was more green cover, more CNG buses were plying, overall there was not that much pollution during the Congress government in Delhi,” the Congress leader said, while reporting that he coughed even while walking outside.