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.

Uttarakhand government plans to hold a special session of the state assembly soon to table the Uniform Civil Code draft, sources said. The draft was prepared earlier this year by a committee set up by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The committee worked with a cross-section of citizens and spoke to more than 2 lakh people and key stakeholders.

UCC refers to a common set of laws that are applicable to all the citizens of India and is not based on religion in dealing with marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption, among other personal matters.

In the draft bill that Uttarakhand will present in the assembly, the government seeks a complete ban on polygamy, sources said. There is a also a provision for live-in couples to register their relationship.

It has been snowing continuously over two days in Badrinath town of Uttarakhand since Friday evening.

Officials said that two inches of snow were recorded in the temple town as the snowfall which started Friday evening continued into the second day.

The Badrinath Dham, one of the four sites of the Char Dham pilgrimage, was covered in a sheet of snow as seen in the visuals accessed by ANI.

Meanwhile, the portals of Shri Badrinath Dham will be closed for winter beginning November 18, authorities said earlier in the month.

The doors of Shri Badrinath Dham were opened for devotees on April 27 earlier this year

According to Uttarakhand Police Headquarters, the number of pilgrims visiting Char-Dham by October 16 had crossed 50 lakhs. Along with this, about 5,40,000 vehicles also reached Char-Dham. After the commencement of the Yatra, more than 17,8000 devotees visited Kedarnath Dham, 15,9000 visited Badrinath Dham, 8,46,000 pilgrims visited Gangotri, 6,94,000 pilgrims visited Yamunotri, and over 1,77,000 devotees visited Hemkund Sahib.

The portals of Shri Gangotri Dham will be shut for the winter season on November 14, an official statement issued by the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee stated earlier.

The Shri Yamunotri Dham will shut for winter on November 15, authorities stated.