Delhi

NEW DELHI, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Delhi's 20 million residents were effectively breathing smoke on Thursday as the air quality index (AQI) breached the "severe" and "hazardous" categories in nearly all monitoring stations of the Indian capital, raising calls to close schools.

The AQI exceeded 450 at many places early in the day, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board. A reading over 400 affects healthy people, with serious impacts on those with existing diseases, the federal government says.

NEW DELHI, Nov 2 (NNN-PTI) – At least 53 people drowned, in India’s eastern state of Bihar, during the four-day Hindu festival, Chhath Puja, local media quoted officials as saying, today.

The drownings have taken place in rivers and other water bodies across various districts of the state, during the four-day festival.

NEW DELHI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- New virulent sub-variants of Omicron spreading COVID-19 infection have been detected in India, raising concerns over infections spreading with the onset of winter.

Sub-variants XBB, XBB.1 and XBB.3 have been found in various parts of India.

XBB, a recombinant lineage between two Omicron sublineages, BJ.1 and BA.2.75 is a fast-spreading sub-variant of the COVID-19 virus.

New Delhi, Oct 29 (PTI) Citing media reports, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday claimed that the Modi government plans to scrap nearly 300 science awards and asked why it is so averse to grooming scientific temperament.

Taking to Twitter, Kharge shared media reports which claimed that more than 300 government awards for scientists from ministries of science, space, health and family welfare, and earth sciences have been discontinued.

New Delhi, Oct 30 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday described Jammu and Kashmir as the pride of every Indian, and said that it is time to leave behind the old challenges and take full benefit of new possibilities.

Addressing the Jammu and Kashmir Rozgar Mela through video conferencing, he also said that there is a need to work with a new approach and new thinking for fast-paced development.

“We are committed to taking benefits of development equally to all sections and citizens," Modi said.

New Delhi, Oct 30 (PTI) Delhi recorded its air quality in the 'very poor' category on Sunday morning and forecasters said slow wind speed and an increase in stubble burning, especially in Punjab, may push it to the 'severe' zone.

With pollution levels worsening, the Centre's air quality panel on Saturday directed authorities to impose a ban on construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR, except in essential projects, and other curbs under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan.

NEW DELHI, Oct 29 (NNN-PTI) – At least 30 people were injured today, after a fire broke out inside a residential building, in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, officials said.

The fire broke out in the Shahganj locality of Aurangabad district, about 94 km south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar.

According to officials, an electric short circuit led to the massive fire, and triggered a gas cylinder blast.

NEW DELHI (AP) — India will contribute half a million dollars to the United Nations’ efforts to counter global terrorism as new and emerging technologies used by terror groups pose fresh threats to governments around the world, the foreign minister said Saturday.

The money will go toward the U.N. Trust Fund for Counter Terrorism and will further strengthen the organization’s fight against terrorism, S. Jaishankar said as he addressed a special meeting of the U.N. Counter Terrorism Committee in New Delhi.

NEW DELHI, Oct 25 (NNN-PTI) – The quality of air above the Indian capital, Delhi, deteriorated today, to the “Very Poor” category, from the “Poor” category recorded earlier, mainly due to the bursting of firecrackers and fireworks, by people who celebrate the Diwali festival.

According to the data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) today, the overall air quality index (AQI) over Delhi, in terms of PM2.5, stood at 353, which falls in the “Very Poor” category.

New Delhi, Oct 24 (PTI) Delhi's air quality turned "very poor" on Monday morning as unfavourable meteorological conditions allowed accumulation of pollutants, and emissions from firecrackers and stubble burning compounded the situation.

On Sunday evening, the city reported a 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 259, which was lowest for the day before Diwali in seven years.