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Firefighters use fire trucks to spray down smog in New Delhi

With the smog danger increasing India plans to use firefighters to spray water over parts of New Delhi to combat toxic smog and dust that has triggered a pollution emergency, with conditions expected to worsen over the weekend. Firefighters will use the fire trucks in areas with high concentrations of toxic dust. Water cannon – usually used by police for riot control – would also be employed.

“Sprinkling water is the only way to bring down the dangerous pollution levels,” said Shruti Bhardwaj, an environmental official charged with monitoring air quality.

The thick blanket of grey air and pollutants has enveloped Delhi for four days. With particle readings of 523 at nine a.m. on Friday. The upper limit of “good” air is just 50.

Illegal crop burning in farm states surrounding New Delhi, vehicle exhausts and swirling construction dust have contributed to what has become an annual crisis. The federal government said the states of Punjab and Rajasthan had failed to use funds allocated to them to help them in crop residue management and farm mechanization.

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