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Best fitness regime is to stay indoors, says CPCB as air quality dips in Delhi-NCR

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7 years ago

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Best fitness regime is to stay indoors, says CPCB as air quality dips in Delhi-NCR

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Air quality in Delhi has deteriorated severely and seems set to worsen further, prompting the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to warn people to avoid strenuous exercises, try to minimize their exposure to the toxic air, and cut down the use of private cars.

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority will now take a call based on CPCB’s recommendations and pass an order, later today (Saturday, Oct 27).

CPCB expects pollution in the area to be at its worst because of toxic fumes from stubble burning in parts of Punjab and Haryana that westerly winds are expected to blow towards Delhi.

Delhi has been already reeling under ‘very poor’ air quality over the past three days and conditions are likely to deteriorate further over the weekend, CPCB’s forecasting system and SAFAR, which comes under the union ministry of earth sciences, has already said.

Air quality in Delhi and NCR (national capital region)on Friday recorded worse pollution than what it was a day after Dussehera.The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi recorded was 361, against 331 on Thursday and 326 a day after Dussehera – all in “very-poor” category.

Many regions are now suffering a “severe or severe-plus” air-quality, the top four most polluted regions in Delhi included Jahangirpuri in north Delhi (AQI 464) and Mundaka in west-Delhi (AQI 444), Dwarka sub-city in south-Delhi (AQI 436), Anand Vihar in east-Delhi (AQI 415) — all marked “severe”.

“The primary pollutants in Delhi’s air – PM10 and PM2.5 – have also shot up alarmingly. At 7 pm on Friday, PM10 level shot up to 384ug/m3 which is 3.8 times above the safe limits of 100ug/m3. The ultrafine particles PM2.5 shot up to 198ug/m3, which was 3.3 times above the permissible limit of 60ug/m3. This is likely to shoot up further over the next two days as pollutants are not being dispersed because the present spell of unfavaourable weather conditions are unlikely to change,” said a CPCB official.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

AQI Category, Pollutants and Health Breakpoints
AQI Category (Range) PM10

24-hr

 PM2.5

24-hr

 NO2

24-hr

 O3

8-hr

 CO

8-hr (mg/m3)

 SO2

24-hr

 NH3

24-hr

 Pb

24-hr
Good (0-50) 0-50 0-30 0-40 0-50 0-1.0 0-40 0-200 0-0.5
Satisfactory (51-100) 51-100 31-60 41-80 51-100 1.1-2.0 41-80 201-400 0.5 –1.0
Moderately polluted

(101-200)

 101-250 61-90 81-180 101-168 2.1- 10 81-380 401-800 1.1-2.0
Poor

(201-300)

 251-350 91-120 181-280 169-208 10-17 381-800 801-1200 2.1-3.0
Very poor

(301-400)

 351-430 121-250 281-400 209-748* 17-34 801-1600 1200-1800 3.1-3.5
Severe

(401-500)

 430 + 250+ 400+ 748+* 34+ 1600+ 1800+ 3.5+

 

Air quality in Delhi and its environs is expected to deteriorate further between November 1 and November 10, according to the CPCB.

EPCA warned on Thursday that from November 1, the wind is expected to change its direction and blow from the west and northwest directions bringing in fumes and pollutants from stubble burning regions of Punjab and Haryana. “At present it is blowing from south east and east direction. But still at least 20% – 30% of the pollutants are coming from those two states. It will rise once the wind direction changes,” said a CPCB official.

“Between November 1 and 10 meteorological conditions may not be favourable for Delhi as a result of which air quality could deteriorate. Based on our past two years of experiences, the CPCB’s task force met on Friday and has recommended some preventive and proactive measures to EPCA,” said P Gargava, member secretary of the CPCB, as per a report in The Hindustan Times (HT).

Recommended precautions

◼ Avoid strenuous exercise, especially early in the morning. Walk slower

◼ Avoid traffic intersections during rush hour or roads with heavy traffic

◼ Close windows that face roads

◼ Cut down on smoking, lighting incense sticks

◼ Avoid using private cars for commuting

The recommendations include a ban on all civil construction and excavation activities in the entire National Capital Region between November 1 and 10; a closure of coal and biomass based industries (excluding thermal power plants and waste to energy plants) between November 4 and November 10; and an intensification of efforts by the traffic police and transport department to check visibly polluting vehicles and reduce traffic jams in Delhi.

“We are also requesting and recommending that the public minimize their exposure and cut down the use of private vehicles, particularly diesel vehicles, during the first ten days of November,” said Gargava.

“Any form of strenuous exercise including jogging at more than 5 km per hour should be avoided during this period. People should also try to avoid other forms of pollution such as burning incense sticks and mosquito coils indoors,”Dr TK Joshi, health expert of the CPCB task force, said according to HT.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1540638580024{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #a2b1bf !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}”]Air pollution is a health risk at every stage of life.

Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy can damage a developing baby’s vital organs including the brain, heart and lungs and lead to a range of conditions including asthma, heart disease and cancers.

Air pollution also negatively affects brain development during childhood, lowering children’s chances of success in school and employment possibilities later in life.

The WHO’s estimates show that worldwide ambient air pollution accounts for:

29% of all deaths and disease from lung cancer

17% of all deaths and disease from acute lower respiratory infection

24% of all deaths from stroke

25% of all deaths and disease from ischaemic heart disease

43% of all deaths and disease from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

India alone accounts for one-fourth of deaths in the world due to air pollution[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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BJP releases first list of 47 candidates for Kerala assembly polls

The BJP has released its first list of 47 candidates for the Kerala Assembly elections scheduled for April 9, including three former Union ministers.

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4 hours ago

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March 16, 2026

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BJP releases list of candidates

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released its first list of 47 candidates for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections scheduled for April 9.

Voting will take place for all 140 seats in the state assembly, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4. A party or coalition needs at least 70 seats to secure a majority in the House.

Among the candidates announced in the first list are three former Union ministers — Rajeev Chandrasekhar, V. Muraleedharan and George Kurian.

Key candidates announced

Kerala BJP chief and former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar has been fielded from the Nemom assembly constituency. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Chandrasekhar lost the Thiruvananthapuram seat to three-time MP Shashi Tharoor, but he led in the Nemom assembly segment during that contest. The party believes this performance strengthens its prospects in the constituency.

Nemom has held political significance for the BJP since 2016, when senior leader O. Rajagopal won the seat and became the party’s first-ever MLA in the 140-member Kerala Legislative Assembly. The victory marked the BJP’s initial breakthrough in the state assembly.

However, the seat returned to the Left camp in the 2021 Assembly election when V. Sivankutty defeated BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan.

Former Union minister V. Muraleedharan will contest from the Kazhakoottam constituency, while George Kurian has been nominated from Kanjirappally.

Other candidates in the list

According to the list released by the party, several other candidates have also been announced for key constituencies. P. C. George will contest from Poonjar, R. Sreelekha from Vattiyoorkavu and Padmaja Venugopal from Thrissur.

The BJP has also nominated Sobha Surendran from Palakkad, Navya Haridas from Kozhikode North and Kavitha K. S. from Sulthanbathery, a reserved constituency.

Raji Prasad will contest from the Kunnathur seat reserved for Scheduled Castes, while R. Rashmi has been fielded from Kottarakkara.

Political backdrop in Kerala

Kerala’s electoral politics has traditionally alternated between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). However, the BJP has been attempting to expand its presence in the state.

The alternating trend was interrupted in the 2021 Assembly election when the electorate returned the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government to power for a second consecutive term.

The BJP believes recent electoral performances and local body successes have strengthened its position as it prepares to contest the upcoming assembly polls.

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Fire in ICU at SCB medical college hospital in Cuttack kills 10 patients

Ten patients died after a fire broke out in the trauma ICU at SCB medical college hospital in Cuttack early Monday morning. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced compensation and ordered a judicial probe.

Published

14 hours ago

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March 16, 2026

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A major fire at the trauma care intensive care unit (ICU) of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha, early Monday morning left ten patients dead and several hospital staff members injured.

According to officials, the fire broke out between 2:30 am and 3:00 am in the trauma ICU where critically ill patients were undergoing treatment. Emergency teams rushed to the scene soon after the incident, and multiple fire engines were deployed to control the blaze and assist in rescue operations.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said hospital staff were injured while evacuating patients from the affected ward during the emergency.

Patients shifted as rescue operations continued

Following the fire, 23 patients were moved to other departments and wards within the hospital to ensure their safety and continued medical care.

Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said seven critically ill patients died while being shifted to other ICUs and wards, while three more succumbed later.

“A total of 23 patients have been shifted to other departments. Seven serious patients died while shifting to other ICUs and wards, while another three patients died later. I have directed the concerned officers for proper treatment of the injured patients,” Majhi said.

Chief minister visits hospital, announces compensation

Soon after the incident, Majhi visited the hospital along with Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling to review the situation. They also met patients who were undergoing treatment at the facility.

The Chief Minister announced financial assistance of ₹25 lakh for the families of each deceased patient.

He also ordered a judicial probe into the incident to determine the cause of the fire and examine safety measures at the hospital.

Authorities continue to monitor the condition of injured staff members and patients who were shifted from the ICU.

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Arvind Kejriwal moves Supreme Court against Delhi High Court order in excise policy case

Arvind Kejriwal has approached the Supreme Court challenging a Delhi High Court order related to proceedings in the excise policy case and alleging violation of his fundamental rights.

Published

14 hours ago

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March 16, 2026

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Arvind Kejriwal

Aam Aadmi Party chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approached the Supreme Court of India challenging certain proceedings in the Delhi excise policy case and alleging a violation of his fundamental rights.

In a petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, Kejriwal has questioned a decision of the Delhi High Court that put a freeze on remarks related to the investigation conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The petition also challenges an order of the High Court Chief Justice rejecting Kejriwal’s request to transfer the case to another bench.

Plea seeks change of bench

Earlier, on March 11, Kejriwal and several others submitted a representation to Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya seeking reassignment of the case to what they described as an “impartial” judge.

In the representation, Kejriwal stated that he had a “grave, bona fide and reasonable apprehension” that the matter may not receive an impartial hearing before the current bench.

However, the Chief Justice declined the request and said the petition had been assigned as per the existing roster.

According to the communication sent by the High Court’s Registrar General on March 13 to eight individuals including Kejriwal, the Chief Justice noted that any decision on recusal must be taken by the judge hearing the matter and that there was no reason to transfer the petition administratively.

Order on trial court proceedings also challenged

Kejriwal has also challenged a March 9 order passed by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court.

In that order, Justice Sharma had stayed a trial court direction that called for an investigation into a CBI officer who handled the excise policy case. The High Court had also asked the trial court to defer proceedings connected to the anti-money laundering aspect of the case.

Justice Sharma had further rejected certain observations made by the trial court while discharging Kejriwal and 22 others, stating that some of those remarks were erroneous.

Hearing expected on CBI plea

Meanwhile, Justice Sharma is scheduled to hear a petition filed by the CBI challenging the discharge of Kejriwal, former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others in the excise policy case.

The matter remains under judicial consideration as the legal challenge now moves to the Supreme Court.

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