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From avoiding outdoor walks to saying no to burning firecrackers, the Delhi health department has advised a slew of measures in view of the pollution in the national capital.

The advisory, published in major dailies on Saturday has also underlined that pregnant women, patients with underlying medical conditions, children and the elderly population should be more cautious and avoid exposure to air pollution.

However, intermittent rains on Thursday night and Friday brought major relief from the hazardous air lingering over the national capital for two weeks. It also prompted the Delhi government to postpone the implementation of the odd-even car rationing scheme.

At 7 am on Saturday, the capital’s air quality index (AQI) stood at 219, which is a marked improvement compared to Thursday’s 24-hour average AQI of 437. The city experienced “very poor” to “severe” air quality for two weeks starting October 28.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, 401 and 450 “severe” and above 450 “severe plus”.

As the AQI usually deteriorates around and immediately after Diwali, the public health advisory issued by the Directorate of Health Services of the Delhi government has asked people to not burn firecrackers.

“Avoid places with high air pollution like slow and heavy traffic roads, areas near polluting industries, construction/demolition sites, etc. Avoid outdoor morning and late evening walks, jog, run, physical exercise, specifically during days with severe AQI,” the advisory reads.

It also advised people to not smoke tobacco products, avoid burning mosquito coils and incense sticks in closed premises, and avoid burning wood, leaves, crop residues, and waste.

The advisory also tells people to wash their eyes with running water, have regular gargles with lukewarm water, and eat a healthy and balanced diet, including fruits and vegetables.

“Consult a doctor in case of breathlessness, giddiness, cough, chest discomfort or pain, irritation in eyes (red or watery), use public transport or car pools, practice wet mopping instead of sweeping, inside homes and workplaces,” the advisory further reads.

Patients with underlying medical conditions (particularly chronic pulmonary and cardiovascular problems), pregnant women, children, and elderly persons should remain more careful and avoid exposure to air pollution, it adds.

BY Vijayendra, who was recently appointed BJP’s Karnataka unit chief, said that his focus will be on the performance in next year’s Lok Sabha elections.

“My agenda is to focus on the Lok Sabha elections. I will try to bring all senior leaders together,” Mr Vijayendra told NDTV.

Mr Vijayendra, the son of former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, also said that voters will a fitting reply to those accusing them of dynasty politics. Mr Vijayendra is the MLA of Shikharipura, from where his father won comfortably in the 2018 Karnataka election.

He had been appointed as the BJP state vice president in 2020.

The appointment of Mr Vijayendra, seen as the political heir to Mr Yediyurappa, to replace Nalinkumar Kateel ends months of speculation as a change of guard in the state was widely expected since the BJP suffered a big defeat to the Congress in the election in May.

Though it was always a strong probability that the BJP would pick a Lingayat leader to lead its state unit, its decision to pick the first-time MLA ignoring the dynastic plank, something it has used to target rivals, has highlighted the political importance his father continues to wield despite being eased out of electoral politics by the party.

Mr Vijayendra said that the move was aimed at taking the party forward.

“There was no unceremonious exit of Yediyurappa ji, he explained why he resigned as Chief Minister. We want to build the party,” he said.

BS Yediyurappa, echoing the sentiment, said that the change was made looking at the future and wasn’t an attempt by the BJP to placate him.

“Whatever happened has happened. In the future, we will build the party and make necessary changes. Our aim is to win more than 25 Lok Sabha seats from Karnataka. ,” he said.

He added that he was extremely happy with the announcement, which he claimed was made at the last minute by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President JP Nadda.