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In Delhi's toxic air, kids made to run marathon

Schools closed for 2 days as air quality in Capital nears ‘severe-plus’ category; NGO says children participated voluntarily, ran briefly

NEW DELHI
As Delhi is battling with very poor air quality and hovering around the emergency zone, a marathon named ‘Run for Children’ was organised in the national capital.

Ironically, schools have being asked to remain shut on Thursday and Friday after a thick gray haze of noxious air enveloped the city for the third consecutive day and air pollution levels neared 'severe plus category',

Scores of children were seen running at Vinay Marg in Chanakyapuri, the area filled with dust pollutants in the morning on Thursday. Parents claimed that participating children fell ill.

On Thursday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) docked at 472 with particulate matter (PM) 2.5 levels at 322 and PM 10 levels at 487 at 8:30 in the morning, said System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

"Every year we celebrate the founder's day of the organization. The marathon was symbolic and was held for a very brief time. Children have participated voluntarily as there was no curfew," said Amod K. Kanth, a social worker and a founder of the NGO Prayas.


‘Climate change will hit Indian kids’ health for life’

Climate change will damage the health of an entire generation of children, particularly in India, due to food shortages, infectious diseases, floods and deadly heatwaves, unless there are immediate cuts to fossil fuel emissions, according to a major new report published in The Lancet journal on Thursday.

The annual project is a collaboration between 120 experts from 35 institutions, including the World Health Organisation and World Bank.

Poornima Prabhakaran, co-author of the report, noted that few countries are likely to suffer from the health effects of climate change as much as India, with its huge population and high rates of healthcare inequality, poverty, and malnutrition. PTI

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