AP PHOTOS: River and air pollution in India's capital pose a severe health threat to residents

NEW DELHI -- One of India’s astir ineffable rivers, nan Yamuna successful New Delhi, is covered pinch achromatic toxic foam, pinch immense sections frothing arsenic a consequence of pollutants discharged from industries astir nan city. The contamination poses a terrible wellness threat to residents since nan stream provides much than half of nan Indian capital's water.

New Delhi besides has immoderate of nan world’s astir polluted aerial each year, and nan existent show play is exacerbating nan situation. On Tuesday, nan air-quality scale deteriorated to “a very poor” reference of 273, 18 times much than nan World Health Organization’s value guidelines. The mini PM 2.5 particulate matter tin participate heavy into nan lungs and origin diseases.

Still, Hindu devotees person not fixed up their belief practices astatine nan Yamuna. On Tuesday morning, a young mates was among a group that visited nan stream bank, had a dip, and past left.

Jasraj, a 70-year-old retired authorities clerk, said he has been visiting nan stream for a bathing ritual since 1980.

"I believe nan stream arsenic a mother, and location is nary mobility of its being cleanable aliases dirty. It's soiled connected nan aboveground but cleanable beneath nan top," said Jasraj, who uses 1 name.

Imran Khan, a student, said 1 can't respire decently successful Delhi's polluted air.

"People are present for jogging, and they are facing problems, too. Our situation should beryllium cleaner," he said.

Shishupal Kumar, a statement worker, said group sojourn nan stream from far-off places to execute belief rituals.

"The stream has go wholly dirty. It is afloat of chemicals. It looks for illustration snowfall has happened here, for illustration it happens connected mountains," Kumar said.

The 1,376-kilometer (855-mile) Yamuna is 1 of nan holiest rivers for Hindus. It is besides among nan astir polluted successful nan world. Dangerously unhealthy waterways are a interest for many, particularly pinch contamination expected to worsen during nan upcoming Chhath Puja, a Hindu festival.

The stream has go dirtier complete nan years arsenic sewage, workplace pesticides and business effluents travel into nan waterway contempt laws against polluting and authorities mounting up dozens of sewage curen plants.

The New Delhi authorities said officials were utilizing defoamers to tackle nan problem. Authorities person deployed dozens of motorboats to disperse nan toxic foam and erected bamboo barricades to support group distant from nan stream banks.

The officials interest that thousands of Hindu devotees adjacent period will guidelines knee-deep successful its frothy, toxic waters, sometimes moreover immersing themselves successful a beatified dip to people Chhath Puja.

Winters, successful particular, person go a clip of wellness woes successful India’s capital, which is location to much than 20 cardinal people. The metropolis during wintertime is covered pinch a toxic haze that obscures nan sky. Pollution levels soar arsenic millions of Hindus observe “Diwali,” nan show of light, amid emissions from monolithic firecrackers. Diwali will beryllium celebrated connected Thursday.

Farmers successful neighboring cultivation regions besides group occurrence to their onshore aft harvests to clear it for nan adjacent harvest season.

India's Supreme Court earlier this period slammed bluish Indian states for not taking stricter action against group burning harvest residues up of nan wintertime play and aggravating nan region's aerial pollution.

Authorities each twelvemonth unopen building sites, restrict diesel-run vehicles and deploy h2o sprinklers and anti-smog guns to power nan haze and smog enveloping nan skyline of nan superior region.

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Videojournalist Piyush Nagpal contributed to this study from New Delhi.