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Delhi continued to battle with air pollution for the 10th consecutive day post-Diwali as a dense layer of smog blanketed parts of the national capital on Sunday. <br /><br />Several parts of the national capital recorded very poor air quality levels on Sunday morning as per the data issued by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR-India).<br /><br />Today morning, Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 351, Bawana 383, CRRI Mathura Road 323, Dwarka Sector 8 at 341, IGI Airport at 326, ITO 328, Lodhi Road 319, Mundka at 358, Najafgarh at 341, New Moti Bagh at 394, Okhla phase-2 at 339, RK Puram at 368, and Wazirpur at 366, as per SAFAR-India data.<br /><br />As of 5 pm on November 10, Delhi's AQI stood at 334, with Anand Vihar at 353, Dilshad Garden at 262, and Jahangirpuri at 377. For tomorrow, AQI in adjoining cities of Noida and Gurugram is forecasted to be at 208.92 and 77.51, respectively. <br /><br />Multiple visuals from Delhi's Kartavya Path showed the area surrounding India Gate engulfed by a layer of smog. The AQI in the area was recorded at 357 as of 7 am. High-rise buildings were also covered in smog in the Kalindi Kunj and surrounding locality, as the AQI was recorded as 323 in the area.<br /><br />An AQI is considered "poor" between '200 and 300', "very poor" at '301 and 400', "severe" at '401-450," and 450 and above is "severe plus." As the air pollution levels in the national capital reach "very poor," doctors say that even people with no history of respiratory diseases are suffering from breathing issues.<br /><br />Dr. Nikhil Modi, Senior Consultant for Respiratory Critical Care at Apollo Hospital, told ANI that apart from the regular patients, those who haven't had any respiratory issues in the past are showing up with symptoms such as runny noses, sneezing, coughing, and having increasing difficulties breathing. As it is, respiratory illnesses in the national capital are estimated to have shot up by around 15-20%. <br /><br />The Apollo doctor further suggested that the government close the schools for children as they remain vulnerable. Whenever the pollution levels have gone beyond a certain limit, the government has opted to close the schools, Dr. Modi said.<br /><br />"For the last few years, we have been seeing that the government has taken action. Whenever this pollution level has gone beyond a certain limit, they have opted to close the schools. This is important because children are from a vulnerable group. As adults, we are masked and can protect ourselves better, but children usually are not that effectively taking these measures. Secondly, their lungs are still in developing stages, so they are bound to have more harm due to this pollution," the doctor told ANI.<br /><br />Siddharth Singhal, Head of Health Insurance, Policybazaar.com, notes that while most standard health plans in India cover pollution-related ailments, it is always advised to also go for an OPD plan along with a health insurance plan to cover consultations, medications, and diagnostic tests that may be required frequently due to pollution.<br /><br />"Pollution levels in Delhi-NCR and some other parts of India have shot up post Diwali. Effects of this are very evident in the form of sore throats and breathing problems, among others. This can also result in respiratory ailments and chronic conditions like asthma, bronchitis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), pneumonia, and severe cases of respiratory or bronchial obstruction. Health insurance becomes critical to cover such expenses. Most policies typically cover emergency hospitalization for respiratory issues like asthma or COPD exacerbations requiring ICU or critical care," he adds. <br />

Layer of smog covers Delhi as air quality remains 'very poor'. Here's why you need an insurance cover for this

If you woke up in <keyword id="19900881" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="delhi" source="keywords">Delhi</keyword> recently, you might have noticed more than just the nip in the air – a thick, toxic smog has blanketed the city, turning the air almost unbreathable. On Monday, Delhi’s <keyword id="19920379" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-quality-index" source="keywords">Air Quality Index</keyword> (<keyword id="19916482" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aqi" source="keywords">AQI</keyword>) hit 481, placing it in the "severe plus" category. For context, the “severe” category begins at an AQI of 401, and anything above 450 poses serious health risks even for healthy individuals.<br /><br />According to Swiss group IQAir’s live rankings, Delhi is currently the most polluted city in the world, with an air quality score of 1,081 – a “hazardous” level that is 130.9 times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit for PM2.5.<br /><h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">Major contributors to Delhi’s smog</h3>The root causes of Delhi’s pollution are manifold:<br /><br /><ul><li>Stubble Burning: On Saturday, crop residue burning contributed 25% of Delhi’s air pollution. By Sunday, this figure had climbed to 40%, according to SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research). Satellites recorded 1,334 stubble-burning incidents in six northern states on Sunday alone, the highest number in four days.</li><li>Vehicles: On Sunday, vehicular emissions accounted for 15.8% of the city’s pollution, according to the Centre’s Decision Support System for Air Quality Management.</li><li>Construction Dust and Industrial Emissions: PM2.5, a deadly pollutant, remains the most prominent factor, capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and leading to severe respiratory and cardiac diseases.</li></ul><h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;"><keyword id="24020184" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="GRAP-Stage-4" source="keywords">GRAP Stage 4</keyword></h3>To combat the rising pollution levels, authorities have enforced Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Here’s a breakdown of the restrictions:<br /><ul><li>Vehicle Restrictions:</li><ul><li>Diesel medium and heavy goods vehicles (BS-IV and below) registered in Delhi are banned unless carrying essential goods.</li><li>Non-essential light commercial vehicles from outside Delhi can only enter if they use CNG, BS-VI diesel, or are electric.</li><li>Trucks carrying non-essential items are barred unless they use cleaner fuels like LNG, CNG, or BS-VI diesel.<br /></li></ul><li>Workplace and School Adjustments:</li><ul><li>Classes for students in grades 6 to 9 and class 11 have moved online.</li><li>Offices in the National Capital Region (NCR) are advised to work at 50% capacity, with the rest operating remotely.<br /></li></ul><li>Construction Ban:<br /></li><ul><li>Construction and demolition (C&amp;D) activities have been halted, including large projects like highways, flyovers, and pipelines.<br /></li></ul></ul>Out of Delhi’s 40 monitoring stations, 32 reported AQI levels above 400 on Monday. Visibility in parts of the city dropped to just 100 metres due to the thick smog.<br /><br />The health implications of these numbers are alarming. <keyword id="20118319" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PM2-5-levels" source="keywords">PM2.5 levels</keyword> in Delhi were recorded at 130.9 times the safe limit set by the WHO. According to experts, long-term exposure to such air quality could lead to an 11% increase in premature mortality rates due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Studies have shown that Delhi residents may lose an average of 10 years of life expectancy if pollution levels persist.<br /><br />Despite the restrictions, life in Delhi continues under a cloud of smog. Iconic landmarks like India Gate have become barely visible through the haze. While flights and trains are operational, some delays have been reported.<br />

GRAP Stage 4 restrictions take effect as air quality in Delhi deteriorates; PM2.5 levels 130 times higher than WHO limits

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Beatrice de Jong is a licensed real estate agent and consumer trends expert at Opendoor, a real estate company that makes it simple to buy and sell a home online.</li><li>While the COVID-19 pandemic inspired many people to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-yorkers-are-fleeing-the-city-to-escape-the-coronavirus-2020-3">pack up and leave</a> cities for greener suburban pastures, a permanent relocation is more serious.</li><li>If you're considering a long-term move, it's important to know if you'll be able to keep your job and work remotely once the office reopens.</li><li>You should also ask yourself if it's a wise financial decision, if you'll able to find a more affordable home, and if it would improve <keyword id="99281" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Quality-of-life">quality of life</keyword> for your family down the road.</li></ul><p>The coronavirus pandemic has spurred lifestyle changes across America. With companies offering an increasing number of <a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2020-04-03-gartner-cfo-surey-reveals-74-percent-of-organizations-to-shift-some-employees-to-remote-work-permanently2">remote work options</a> and schools transitioning to virtual classes, many people are reevaluating their current living situation and future plans. Additionally, mortgage rates have reached <a href="http://www.freddiemac.com/pmms/">historic lows</a>, encouraging many first-time homebuyers to enter the market.</p><p>While owning a home in a major metro might have been necessary or desirable before, <a href="https://theharrispoll.com/video-tours-suburbs-vs-cities-buying-selling-a-home-to-look-different-after-covid-19/">data shows</a> that many <keyword id="18448" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="city">city</keyword> dwellers are flocking to <keyword id="6356371" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="suburbs">suburbs</keyword> and more rural areas. Are you thinking about <keyword id="55350" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="moving">moving</keyword> out of a city or buying a home in the suburbs sometime soon? If so, here are five questions to ask yourself.</p><h2><strong>1. Can I keep my job?</strong></h2><p>With companies implementing work from home policies, employees are experiencing more flexibility than before. If your decision to live in the city was based on being close to your office or to save money on a costly commute, you may find that it's no longer necessary to be there.</p><p>If you're contemplating a move, I recommend checking in with your employer to understand what <keyword id="1591611" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="remote-work">remote work</keyword> may look like for your position at the company in months to come. Will office activities resume as usual? What's the expectation for your team? Will you need to come in on a semi-regular basis, such as monthly or quarterly? Will your role, responsibilities, or compensation change if you opt to be fully remote? Having this conversation early and checking in about it often can help guide your decision about where to move.</p><h2><strong>2. Will my kids' schooling and social involvement be affected?</strong></h2><p>For many families, the decision to buy a new home is often tied to where their kids will go to <keyword id="6356508" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="school">school</keyword>, along with how moving could affect their involvement, social life, and extracurricular activities. Many families also try to avoid moving during the school year to minimize disruptions.</p><p>However, just as remote work has become a new normal, virtual schooling has become mainstream. If you've stayed in the city to be close to a specific school or district, or worry about adjusting your child's routine or social life, you may find that recent adjustments make relocating a bit easier for them. </p><h2><strong>3. Is city life still appealing to me/my family?</strong></h2><p>With restrictions, shelter-in-place mandates, and some permanent closures, cities are changing. Though no one knows exactly what metropolitan life will look like months — or even years — from now, a recent<a href="https://theharrispoll.com/video-tours-suburbs-vs-cities-buying-selling-a-home-to-look-different-after-covid-19/"> Harris Poll survey</a> shows that nearly one-third of Americans are considering moving to less densely populated areas. And, people in cities were twice as likely as those in suburban and rural areas to have recently used a real estate website to search for a new home. </p><p>For young homeowners or aspiring buyers in particular — such millennials and Gen Z — a major metro may not have the same appeal as it did before COVID-19. Many of the social distancing and other safety practices put in place during the pandemic could be here to stay — especially when it comes to common areas, shared facilities, public elevators, and transportation. These are all important factors to consider if you're contemplating whether or not to stay in the city.</p><h2><strong>4. Is moving out of the city a sound financial decision?</strong></h2><p>Living in the city can be more costly than living in the suburbs or a rural area, regardless of whether you're renting or making mortgage payments on a home you already own. And while some rents dropping in the last few months in hot markets like<a href="https://ny.curbed.com/2020/5/18/21257074/nyc-rent-tenant-landlord-moving-apartment-coronavirus"> New York</a> and<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2020/6/2/21277355/san-francisco-rent-prices-coronavirus-2020-may"> San Francisco</a>, home prices are still high in cities across the country.</p><p>It's worth noting that almost one-third of Americans <a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/2018-home-buyer-report/#findings">plan to buy a home</a> in the next five years, and home shoppers could save money by moving to a more affordable area. In addition, <a href="http://www.freddiemac.com/pmms/">mortgage rates have reached historic lows</a>, inspiring potential homebuyers to make a purchase sooner than initially planned.</p><p>Could you upgrade your home with increased buying power in a less expensive location, save money on monthly mortgage payments by downsizing, or simply reduce your overall cost of living? If so, moving right now may be a smart financial decision.</p><h2><strong>5. Would my quality of life improve?</strong></h2><p>When considering a big move, it's important to take time to reflect on your current situation. Relocating to the outskirts of the city or a new neighborhood can mean upheaving your lifestyle and saying goodbye to friends and familiar surroundings. On the other hand, moving to an area where you have more buying power or can be closer to family may improve your overall quality of life. </p><p>New home trends are taking shape too. An<a href="https://www.nar.realtor/newsroom/realtors-report-that-77-of-potential-home-sellers-are-preparing-to-sell-following-end-of-stay-at"> Economic Pulse Survey</a> conducted by NAR in May shows that 13% of realtors report homebuyers have changed at least one feature that's important to them due to COVID-19. With<a href="https://www.slideshare.net/HUNTERNY/hunter-food-study-special-report-america-gets-cooking-231713331"> 54% more people cooking at home than they did before the pandemic</a>, it's no surprise that desirable kitchens top the list. Extra bedrooms, open floor plans, and good lighting are also<a href="https://assets.ctfassets.net/8ds2ecbq6fon/2mn8AgGeznTim66Y3EfqGW/2aad611d1edd69bbec34b3ecab42cecd/OJO_Labs__Captivity__Uncertainty_and_Opportunituy__Homebuying_in_the_wake_of_Covid-19__1_.pdf"> important features</a>. Would having a home office, pool, or yard be worth leaving the city? If so, it may be a trade-off worth exploring.</p><p>Relocating to a new city or buying your first home are major life milestones, and it's important to consider your options and take your time making the decision. Asking yourself these important questions can help you understand your current priorities and options. No one knows what the future of cities or suburbs will look like, but you can decide what makes the most sense for you and your family right now.</p>

If you're considering moving from the city to a suburb, here are 5 questions you should ask, according to a real estate agent

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Samantha Shea had never been outside the US before she started college in 2014.</li><li>After graduating in 2019, she visited India and Pakistan while developing her travel writing.</li></ul><p>When I tell people from back home that I live in Northern Pakistan, I'm usually met with shock.</p><p>Their disbelief escalates when I show them pictures of the snow-capped Karakoram mountain range that surround the village where I live.</p><p>"I thought Pakistan was a desert" is the most common response. As wrong as they are, I don't blame them. I didn't know much about Pakistan before traveling there after college.  </p><p>I live in Hunza Valley, 8,500 feet above sea level on the border with Western China, where I work as a digital nomad.</p><p>When I first came to Pakistan in 2019, I was a recent University of Miami grad who'd never lived outside the US. </p><div type="image" title="A drone shot of Hunza Valley in early May." height="3648" width="4864" msid="100102321" hostid="261"></div><p>In Hunza, electricity comes on for only a few hours a day, you walk to the local market if you need anything – Amazon doesn't deliver to the mountainous valley region – and running hot water isn't guaranteed. </p><p>The valley has, despite these elements, become my home. Here, I don't lock up my bike or my front door, I can walk everywhere, and my recent major home renovation cost me only $3,000. </p><h2>Current guidance around traveling to Pakistan </h2><p>The US travel advice for Pakistan is to avoid traveling to Balochistan province, many parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Indian-Pakistan border because of the potential for terrorist attacks, kidnapping, and armed conflict at the border.</p><p>The US government warns that the assistance it can provide citizens traveling in Pakistan is limited because of these security issues. However, I have personally traveled to some of these areas and did not feel unsafe at the time.</p><p>Although this doesn't mean these threats aren't real and something to consider, many foreign nationals and local Pakistani people travel to the Hunza Valley without incident. Forbes recently named Pakistan an <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/annabel/2020/01/02/the-not-hot-list-10-best-under-the-radar-trips-for-2020/?sh=acd0ba222647" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">up-and-coming adventure vacation</a>. CN Traveller also awarded Pakistan as their <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d18T5ypYzgM&amp;t=16s" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">top holiday destination in 2020</a>.</p><h2><strong>My journey to a remote village in Northern Pakistan </strong></h2><p>My love of travel began at college. From 2014 to 2019, I was a student at the University of Miami in Florida. While I loved my school, being by the beach, and Florida's eternal summer, I never felt settled in Miami. </p><div type="image" title="Samantha Shea, young woman stood in front of the Miami beach shoreline." height="2688" width="3583" msid="100102323" hostid="261"></div><p>Because I grew up in suburban Connecticut, the move to a busy city was a big adjustment. It was noisy and fast-paced, and the proximity to crime, common in urban areas, put me on edge. </p><p>I had never traveled outside the US growing up, but I fell in love with backpacking at college. My trips became more and more offbeat. I was traveling through India the summer before my senior year in 2018 when I decided to pursue a career in travel. </p><h2><strong>I wanted to become a freelance travel blogger after graduation</strong></h2><h2><strong><div type="image" title="Samantha Shea graduating from the university of Miami sat on the college's sign." height="2179" width="2906" msid="100102325" hostid="261"></div></strong></h2><p>I worked three part-time jobs while finishing my degree to save up for my indefinite adventure.</p><p>After graduating in 2019, I set off for India again, traveling around the country and into neighboring Pakistan. </p><p>Despite media negativity and concerns from family and friends, I didn't feel nervous crossing the border from India. I traveled from the historical city of Lahore to the Hindu Kush mountains of Upper Chitral — a region that directly borders Afghanistan — and felt comfortable everywhere I went. </p><div type="image" title="Samantha Shea in Swat Valley Pakistan" height="2316" width="3088" msid="100102329" hostid="261"></div><p>I found it easier and more fun to travel here than in India, a much more "mainstream" backpacking destination. I encountered fewer scammers traveling in Pakistan. I also found Pakistan had less trash on the streets, and the roads were in better condition.</p><h2><strong>I worked for DoorDash and learned Urdu while waiting out COVID-19 limitations</strong></h2><p>In December 2019, I returned to my family home with the plan to move to Pakistan full time in the spring as a digital nomad.</p><p>My plans were halted by COVID-19. I spent the next year learning Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, and delivering for DoorDash. I also finally saw some freelance traction. </p><p>I got my first paid byline, increased my blog traffic, and freelanced in content writing and social-media management. I wanted to have established myself as a digital nomad before I left home.</p><p>In April 2021, I traveled alone to Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. I hadn't arranged a guide and had no plan beyond my first few nights at a hostel. To many, my trip seemed insane, but I was committed. </p><h2><div type="image" title="The vistas on a multi-day hike to the Shimshal Pass, not far from the Chinese border." height="2614" width="3486" msid="100102331" hostid="261"></div></h2><h2><strong>Why Hunza Valley? </strong></h2><p>My 2021 journey brought me to Hunza Valley for a reason. I'd head it was well known as the safest destination for <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Life/Hunza-Valley-women-challenge-Pakistani-patriarchy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">solo female travelers</a>, largely due to its <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/high-up-on-a-pakistani-mountain-a-success-story-for-moderate-islam/2015/07/22/f0b878d2-2572-11e5-b77f-eb13a215f593_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">liberal culture toward women</a>.</p><div type="image" title="Woman walking Hunza Valley" height="4854" width="6472" msid="100102550" hostid="261"></div><p>Hunza Valley is a remote area in Northern Pakistan. The Gatorade-blue rivers and snow-capped mountains make Hunza a popular tourist destination. The local community is known for its hospitality, and I immediately felt at home – something I'd never felt in big-city America.</p><p>The community is welcoming of outsiders — respecting and taking care of guests is a core value here. Before 9/11, there were droves of foreign travelers coming to Hunza, and many locals and their families worked in tourism, so I was welcomed readily. </p><div type="image" title="The Karakoram highway that cuts through Hunza" height="3648" width="4864" msid="100102551" hostid="261"></div><p>Hunza is home to a <a href="https://www.thejuggernaut.com/ismaili-muslims-pakistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">majority Ismaili community</a>, a liberal sect of Islam. Teens hang out in mixed groups, women own restaurants and shops, and it's common for girls to receive higher education.</p><p>I settled in Hunza and have lived here for nearly two years.</p><h2><strong>Many Westerners I've spoken with have trepidations about Pakistan</strong></h2><h2><strong><div type="image" title="Shea sits with locals in a small seaside village on the border of Sindh and Balochistan in the far south of Pakistan." height="3448" width="4597" msid="100102553" hostid="261"></div></strong></h2><p>Hunza itself could not be safer. I don't worry about locking my bike, or even my doors. I've never witnessed a crime of any kind, nor any of the terrorist incidents the US State Department warns travelers of.</p><p>Barely a day after I'd arrived, I found myself lost on a 5-mile trek I set out on alone. Wandering, I ran into a young male shepherd. He insisted on showing me the route back and carrying my bag.</p><p>I kept waiting for "that moment" for which all solo female travelers are on high alert — but it never came. The shepherd was polite and helped me safely find the trail.</p><div type="image" title="Hunza valley in Northern Pakistan" height="1066" width="1422" msid="100102555" hostid="261"></div><p>I think I felt more comfortable in Hunza than I did in Miami for several reasons: The local cuisine shared many similarities with my Polish grandma's recipes, I experienced daily peace, and being surrounded by 20,000-foot peaks made me feel like I positively was on another planet.</p><div type="image" title="Traditional spread of Hunza foods." height="1405" width="1874" msid="100102558" hostid="261"></div><p>I didn't have great WiFi for the first few months of living in Hunza, which was stressful at times. I've since found work-arounds, but it's not simple. </p><h2><strong>The biggest issue is that electricity comes on for </strong><strong>only </strong><strong>around 5 or 6 hours a day, primarily at night</strong></h2><p>I knew Northern Pakistan didn't have great electricity from my 2019 trip to other mountain valleys. Regardless, I always travel with a power bank.</p><p>I remember times when the electricity wouldn't come on as planned and I'd forgotten to charge my devices properly. I found it incredibly stressful, especially if I had a lot of work.</p><div type="image" title="Cycling in the Hunza Valley" height="1410" width="1884" msid="100102560" hostid="261"></div><p>Once, while on a road trip through Upper Chitral, another mountainous region in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, my power bank fell in water and wouldn't turn on.</p><p>I was in an area even more remote than Hunza and knew the power bank likely wasn't sold anywhere in Pakistan. The bank amazingly came back to life, but I did end up breaking another one a year later.</p><p>When these things happen, it makes me miss conveniences like Amazon, but a company called Daraz does manage to deliver plenty of items to Hunza within two or three days. </p><p>Power banks and other electronics can also be sourced from other countries via Packr, an app I've used several times to receive items from the US.</p><p>Now I have a permanent home, I've arranged more long-term solutions. </p><p>I bought a $35 UPS car battery at a local market, which keeps my WiFi router and basic lights working 24/7. I also have two 26,800-mAh Anker power banks as backups, the 2nd of which I purchased after that road-trip scare.</p><h2><div type="image" title="Car battery for back up electricity." height="5304" width="7072" msid="100102562" hostid="261"></div></h2><h2><strong>How I live and work in Hunza Valley</strong></h2><p>One month of accommodation costs between $150 and $250 on average — a far cry from the $1,300 I paid in Miami to share an apartment with roommates.</p><p>My life in Hunza began in Gojal, the local name for the northern portion of the region. When I arrived, I stayed in hotels. Nowhere I stayed cost more than $15 a night, and if I got a long-stay rate, they averaged closer to $8 a night.</p><div type="image" title="Gate to a house in Hunza Valley" height="7477" width="4987" msid="100102564" hostid="261"></div><p>Hunza was slightly more expensive than I thought, especially before I found permanent accommodation. </p><p>I was shocked by how expensive some hotels were. Budget options are available, but a large portion of Hunza's tourism caters to the wealthy sector of the domestic market.</p><p>This experience has positively influenced my career as a freelancer. I've had my stories published in major media outlets. I also run an Instagram account and a YouTube channel focusing on life here and helping travelers plan their trips.</p><h2><div type="image" title="Shea speaking at a tourism event in Hunza" height="2274" width="3024" msid="100102569" hostid="261"></div></h2><h2><strong>I now live in Aliabad in central Hunza, the largest town in the district </strong></h2><div type="image" title="Samantha Shea and her boyfriend sat outside their house." height="1737" width="2316" msid="100102572" hostid="261"></div>I met my now partner, Fareed, in a local coworking space a few months after I arrived in Hunza. He was born and raised in Hunza and now works in trekking tourism.<p>We're happily settled in Aliabad in central Hunza, close to my partner's family, who have become a second family to me. </p><p>I've started learning Burushaski, one of the two major languages spoken in the valley. My partner speaks perfect English, so there's no language barrier.</p><p>Aliabad has high-speed fiber-cable WiFi, which makes uploading content or taking Zoom calls easy, and it's where you'll find amenities like ATMs, stores, small hospitals, and a few restaurants and shops.</p><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Hunza Valley drone" height="3156" width="4208" msid="100102574" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>Even so, Aliabad is still a village in many ways</strong></h2><p>The main roads are paved, but many residential areas have dirt roads. Everything from the doctor to my cellphone provider is within a 15-minute walking radius. </p><p>My partner and I moved into a house his parents owned. It had no electricity, flooring, or running water. We recently renovated two rooms and added a bathroom with running water and a Western toilet. It ended up costing about $3,000.</p><div type="image" title="Samantha Shea, a digital nomad stands with her boyfriends' mother and grandmother." height="2264" width="3019" msid="100102577" hostid="261"></div><p>If we were renting, it would cost around 20,000 Pakistani rupees a month, or about $50. Renting might have been cheaper in the short term, but I love having a space all our own.</p><p>A meal at a restaurant is usually between $2 for local spots and $7 for Western fare, but cooking at home is much less expensive and often tastier. WiFi costs around $8 for unlimited data each month, and I pay $4 for 10 gigabytes of data for my SIM card.</p><div type="image" title="Woman eating Yak burger in Hunza Valley, Pakistan" height="5301" width="7068" msid="100102579" hostid="261"></div><p>Hot water is also not a given in Hunza — but an $80 gas-powered water heater solved that, with refills totaling about $20 a month. The electricity that does come is only about $2 a month, and the cold running water, sourced from a glacier, is free.</p><div type="image" title="2000-gallon water tank in Hunza Valley" height="5203" width="6937" msid="100102582" hostid="261"></div><p>Aliabad has a cold desert climate.</p><div type="image" title="Yak burger on traditional stove." height="2073" width="2764" msid="100102587" hostid="261"></div><p>The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Frequently frozen pipes and a lack of central heating mean winter can be difficult.</p><p>Having spent most of my life in Connecticut, I was used to cold, long winters, and I find Hunza's to be shorter. </p><p>Winter limits my daily activities, but it almost feels like a cozy hibernation period.</p><p>I spend lazy days working by my bukhari — a traditional fireplace.</p><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Hunza Valley local drying apricots." height="3448" width="4597" msid="100102590" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>The benefits of living in Hunza Valley far outweigh any negatives</strong></h2><p>I save thousands each month compared with living in a US city, and my quality of life is infinitely better.</p><p>I avoid the American hustle culture, which I find toxic. The people I meet in Hunza are generally quiet, polite, and respectful. I breathe clean air and eat organic, home-cooked food for every meal. </p><p>Though my solo journey to Pakistan started as a trip, Hunza Valley is now my home. I've even obtained the equivalent of permanent residency. With the money I've saved, I hope to travel to other countries, with Hunza as my base.</p>

I left Miami for a remote village in Pakistan. I have no running hot water and limited electricity &mdash; but my quality of life here is infinitely better.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <a href="https://www.insider.com/space-video-shows-fires-smoke-blanketing-california-oregon-2020-9">US West Coast</a> has the worst air quality in the world due to wildfire <a href="https://www.insider.com/oregon-california-smoke-turns-skies-apocalyptic-orange-photos-2020-9">smoke</a> across <keyword id="2379" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="California">California</keyword>, <keyword id="94113" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Oregon">Oregon</keyword>, and <keyword id="6354998" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="washington">Washington</keyword>.</li><li>Maps of air-quality index measurements show hazardous levels of particulate matter from wildfire <keyword id="6360584" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="smoke">smoke</keyword> across the entire <keyword id="44875" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="West-coast">West Coast</keyword>.</li><li>Research has linked particulate matter from <keyword id="394841" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="wildfires">wildfires</keyword> to heart and lung problems, increased hospital visits, and worse flu seasons.</li><li>The EPA recommends residents stay indoors with filtered air, keep physical activity levels low, and wear an N95 respirator if they have to go outside.</li></ul><p>The West Coast has the worst air quality on Earth right now, as <a href="https://www.insider.com/space-video-shows-fires-smoke-blanketing-california-oregon-2020-9">nearly 100 active wildfires</a> — including three of California's four biggest ever recorded — spew smoke.</p><p>Particulate matter from the smoke has made the air unhealthy to breathe all along the coast, as this map from air-quality monitoring company <a href="https://www2.purpleair.com/">PurpleAir</a> shows.</p><div type="image" title="air quality west coast map" height="1350" width="2614" msid="78069273" hostid="261"></div><p>The numbers in the colored circles indicate the air quality index (AQI) detected by various monitoring sensors across the country. AQI is a metric measuring the level of pollutants in the air and how hazardous those levels are to human health, as determined by guidelines from the Environmental Protection Agency.</p><p>A higher AQI indicates more pollutants in the air and a greater health hazard. The EPA considers any AQI above 150 to be unhealthy for all people. Anything above 300 is considered a "health warning of emergency conditions."</p><p>The EPA does not make recommendations for AQI levels above 500, since they're <a href="https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/extremely-high-levels-of-pm25/">"beyond index."</a></p><p>But PurpleAir's monitors around Salem, Oregon, reported AQIs as high as 758 on Friday morning.</p><p>Those levels are comparable to some of the worst days for air quality in Dehli, India — the world's most polluted city, according to the nonprofit <a href="http://berkeleyearth.lbl.gov/air-quality/CityAverageList.php">Berkeley Earth</a>.</p><div type="image" title="wildfires california oregon washington fires smoke west coast satellite image" height="426" width="600" msid="78069276" hostid="261"></div><p>None of PurpleAir's monitors at other locations across the globe were reporting AQIs anywhere near 400 on Friday morning. </p><h2><keyword id="42704" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="fires">Fires</keyword> have burned millions of acres and forced mass evacuations</h2><p>California has been battling blazes for several weeks following a dry lightning storm on August 16 that ignited hundreds of fires. The state's Doe Fire in the Mendocino National Forest is now the biggest in history at more than 471,000 acres. California's third- and fourth-biggest fires ever are currently burning, too.</p><div type="image" title="creek fire california firefighters" height="1467" width="1956" msid="78069277" hostid="261"></div><p>In California, more than 3.1 million acres have burned so far — an area more than 100 times the size of San Francisco and far more than any other year on record. Fire season doesn't normally peak until late September.</p><p>In Oregon, meanwhile, fires spanning more than 1 million acres have forced about 40,000 people to evacuate. Flames encroaching on the Portland metro area prompted Mayor Ted Wheeler to issue a Fire Emergency Order on Thursday evening.</p><p>More than 500,000 acres have burned in Washington.</p><p>In total across the West Coast this fire season, at least 25 people have died.</p><p>The fires have spread quickly because forests are dried out by years of record heat. Some blazes are emitting so much smoke that they create their own <keyword id="6359992" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="weather">weather</keyword> systems, and the haze has <a href="https://www.insider.com/oregon-california-smoke-turns-skies-apocalyptic-orange-photos-2020-9">tinted the skies orange and red</a> over San Francisco and other parts of the coast.</p><h2>Particulate matter from smoke has serious health consequences</h2><p>The AQI numbers on PurpleAir's map refer to the quantities of tiny particulate matter in the air — specifically, particles that measure 2.5 micrometers across or less. These are known as PM2.5.</p><p>Wildfire smoke carries many of these invisible particles, which come from the buildings and vegetation fires burn as well as chemical reactions in the gases it produces.</p><p>When humans inhale these particles, they can penetrate deep into the lungs and even the bloodstream. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6015400/">Research</a> has connected PM2.5 pollution to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and premature death. In healthy people, it can irritate the eyes and lungs and cause wheezing, coughs, or difficulty breathing.</p><p>The map below, from the EPA's air-quality monitoring website, shows a band of dangerous PM2.5 pollution along the West Coast (similar to what PurpleAir is reporting). The circles are color-coded by AQI ranges: Green indicates good air quality, while maroon indicates "hazardous" conditions with an AQI above 300.</p><div type="image" title="air quality map west coast fires smoke airnow" height="1104" width="1473" msid="78069279" hostid="261"></div><p>"Decades of research have shown that elevated <keyword id="55910" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Air-Pollution">air pollution</keyword> exposure is associated with a number of adverse health impacts, including compromised immune systems," Erin Landguth, an associate professor at the University of Montana's School of Public and Community Health Sciences, told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/11/climate/california-smoke-wildfires.html">The New York Times</a>.</p><p>She added that research indicates that "after bad fire seasons, one would expect to see three to five times worse flu seasons."</p><p>A 2017 <a href="https://insights.ovid.com/epidemiology/epide/2017/01/000/wildfire-specific-fine-particulate-matter-risk/13/00001648">study</a> found that hospitals saw a 7.2% increase in admissions for respiratory issues following wildfire smoke events that produced two or more days of moderate PM2.5 pollution.</p><p>To reduce exposure to particulate matter, <a href="https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/extremely-high-levels-of-pm25/">the EPA recommends</a> people stay indoors with filtered air (ideally in a room with few windows or doors and an air purifier), keeping windows and doors closed. Physical activity levels should remain low, and those who must go outside should wear an N95 respirator. Those masks have been in short supply this year, however, due to the coronavirus pandemic.</p>

An ominous map shows the entire West Coast with the worst air quality on Earth as historic wildfires spew smoke

Washington [US], December 18 (ANI): Two of the most common allergens in the contiguous United States are oak and ragweed pollens. Researchers at the Rutgers <keyword id="15818527" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="environmental-and-occupational-health" source="Orion">Environmental and Occupational Health</keyword> Sciences Institute have modelled how <keyword id="6361617" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="Orion">climate change</keyword> may alter these two <keyword id="818846" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="pollen" source="Orion">pollen</keyword> distribution patterns. Your eyes may water reading the results, which were published in the journal Frontiers in Allergy.<br /><br />By 2050, airborne pollen loads will significantly increase as a result of climate change, according to a team led by <keyword id="15818525" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="panos-georgopoulos" source="Orion">Panos Georgopoulos</keyword>, professor of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice at the <keyword id="15818528" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rutgers-school-of-public-health" source="Orion">Rutgers School of Public Health</keyword>. Some of the biggest increases will occur in regions where pollen has historically been scarce.<br /><br />"Pollen is an excellent sentinel for the impacts of climate change because shifts in variables like carbon dioxide and temperature affect the way plants behave," said Georgopoulos, who also is director of the Computational Chemodynamics Laboratory at Rutgers and faculty at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. "At the same time, the production of pollen and pollen's influence on allergic disease has been increasing due to climate change, and this is one of few studies to forecast this trend into the future."<br /><br />Previous efforts to connect pollen indices with climate change have been limited by a scarcity of data. For instance, there are about 80 pollen sampling stations in the U.S., operated by a variety of private and public agencies using different sampling methods.<br />To overcome this challenge, the researchers adapted the Community Multiscale Air Quality modelling system, an open-source tool managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to simulate distributions of allergenic oak and ragweed pollen for historical (2004) and future (2047) conditions.<br /><br />Results showed that even under moderate warming conditions, pollen season will start earlier and last longer throughout the U.S., with increasing average pollen concentrations in most parts of the nation. Mean concentrations of oak pollen could climb by more than 40 per cent in the Northeast and Southwest and mean concentrations of ragweed could jump by more than 20 per cent in these areas.<br /><br />Regional pollen shifts were observed, too. In parts of Nevada and northern Texas, oak pollen levels could double by mid-century, while Massachusetts and Virginia could see an 80 per cent increase in ragweed pollen by 2050.<br /><br />The pollen research was part of an ongoing project by the <keyword id="15818526" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rutgers-ozone-research-center" source="Orion">Rutgers Ozone Research Center</keyword>, which is funded by the EPA and New Jersey to study how climate change will influence air quality in the state. The bulk of that work examines the state's struggles with ground-level ozone, a byproduct of fossil fuel combustion that can damage the lungs.<br /><br />"New Jersey's air quality is going to be adversely impacted by climate change, both in terms of anthropogenic pollution and increased levels of pollen," Georgopoulos said. "For people with asthma, exposure to pollen and irritants like ozone increases the odds of respiratory illness. To protect the most vulnerable, we need to understand how these irritants will behave in a warming world."<br /><br />SEE ALSO:<br /><br /> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/i-am-glad-i-fd-up-so-much-in-life-that-it-is-content-now-says-ankur-warikoo/articleshow/96282722.cms">I am glad I F**%*D up so much in life that it is content now says Ankur Warikoo</a><br /><br /> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/tech-layoffs-surpass-great-recession-levels-set-to-get-worse-in-early-2023/articleshow/96314678.cms">Tech layoffs surpass Great Recession levels, set to get worse in early 2023</a><br /><br /> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/news/govt-to-amend-insolvency-law-to-reduce-time-taken-for-resolution-process/articleshow/96318850.cms">Govt to amend insolvency law to reduce time taken for resolution process</a><br />

Climate change resulting in itchy eyes and runny nose, says research by Rutgers

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I drove the Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance, a $180,000 (at the time of testing) electric car.</li><li>The Air is the first model from Lucid, a startup based in California. </li></ul><p>The race to become the next Tesla is on. And Lucid Motors is one of the top prospects. </p><p>Against steep odds and unlike some fellow EV startups, the newcomer has managed to actually build vehicles and ship them to customers. I spent a few days with Lucid's debut model — the Air — and was blown away by the striking sedan's monstrous range, lightning-fast charging, comfy cabin, and mind-boggling performance. </p><div type="image" title="The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance." height="1667" width="2500" msid="100396983" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>The basics</strong></h2><p>Founded in 2007, Lucid started making the Air in late 2021 at its factory in Arizona. With just 5,900 cars shipped so far, it's still a rare and cool experience to see one in the wild.</p><p>One driver, leaning halfway out of his SUV to snag a glimpse, encapsulated this idea quite nicely: "Lucid Air! Holy fucking shit!"</p><div type="image" title="A silver Lucid Air electric car photographed from above, sitting on a gravel driveway." height="1667" width="2500" msid="100396985" hostid="261"></div><p>The brand is all about luxury, performance, and technology, so its cars don't come cheap. <a href="https://www.lucidmotors.com/stories/lease-loan-offers">Prices</a> range from $82,400 for the entry-level Air Pure to $249,000 for the Air Sapphire, a limited-edition, balls-to-the-wall speed machine. The more expensive models get fancier interiors, better performance, and longer range.</p><p>The Grand Touring Performance model Lucid lent me slots near the top of the lineup at a whopping $180,000, at the time of testing in May 2023. </p><p>Garnering a 516-mile rating from the EPA, the Grand Touring is the longest-range electric car money can buy, beating out the best Tesla by more than 100 miles. </p><p>Lucid may have taken a while to get here, but it arrived with a splash. </p><div type="image" title="A photo of the interior of the Lucid Air electric car, viewed from the driver's side." height="1667" width="2500" msid="100396987" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>What we like: Awe-inspiring looks and a lavish interior</strong></h2><p>What may not show through in photos is just how exceptionally long, low, and wide the Air is. But in person, it's a stone-cold stunner. </p><p>Other style highlights: Slim light bars spanning the full width of the car's nose and butt, trapezoid-shaped door handles that sit flush when the car is locked, and functional inlets that redirect air around the car, reducing drag. (The Air's slippery shape helps it eke out so many miles from its battery.) </p><div type="image" title="The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance." height="1667" width="2500" msid="102612732" hostid="261" sizebytes="121044"></div><p>The sedan's interior feels special and distinct, too, yet Lucid didn't reject all the things people love about their BMWs and Benzes. It's a nice mix of modern and old school. </p><p>Its sumptuous and highly adjustable leather seats are built to eat up highway miles. Several different massage settings keep you loose and even attend to your glutes.</p><p>Bits of faux suede and wood here and there lend the cabin a refined feel. An expansive windshield that extends past the front seats adds some drama and a sense of openness to the already spacious cockpit. </p><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance." height="3750" width="2500" msid="100396993" hostid="261"></div><p>The back seats are a pleasant place to spend time too and offer oodles of legroom. But in the longest-range models (like the one I drove), an extra-large battery raises the footwells and leaves passengers sitting in a bit of a crouch. </p><p>The Air offers trunks in front and rear. Both are enormous. </p><div type="image" title="The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance." height="1667" width="2500" msid="100396995" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>Screens, screens, and more screens</strong></h2><p>Since it's 2023 and carmakers have basically kicked buttons to the curb, the Air serves up a smattering of screens for your tapping pleasure. Or perhaps frustration, depending on your feelings toward the increasing smartphone-ification of the automobile. </p><div type="image" title="The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance." height="1667" width="2500" msid="100396997" hostid="261"></div><p>An elegantly suspended 34-inch sliver of screens oriented toward the driver houses the speedometer and main infotainment display, where you can access the navigation system or hook up Apple CarPlay. The leftmost corner displays some static buttons for key functions like door locks, wipers, and headlights. </p><p>A tablet nestled down low between the front seats offers access to most other settings, like the Air's various drive modes, seat heating and ventilation, and the glove box. Swipe up and the whole screen retracts, revealing a little cubby. Just above that, you'll find some switches for the fan speed and temperature, along with a scroll wheel for pumping up the tunes. </p><div type="image" title="The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance." height="3496" width="2500" msid="100396998" hostid="261"></div><p>It's nice that Lucid kept some important functions readily accessible rather than hiding them away in a maze of menus. Still, fiddling with the central tablet requires glancing away from the road entirely, which isn't fun. It's way easier to feel around for a button while driving than tap a screen, so it's a shame carmakers are increasingly getting rid of them. </p><p>Credit where credit's due: I found Lucid's whole interface gorgeous and easy to use. Car touchscreens are often laggy and poorly designed, but this system felt straight out of Silicon Valley. I didn't experience any of the software glitches that <a href="https://www.thedrive.com/car-reviews/2022-lucid-air-review-price-options-specs-impressions-new-cars-evs">some other reviewers have observed</a>. </p><div type="image" title="The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance." height="3750" width="2500" msid="102612736" hostid="261" sizebytes="1177450"></div><h2><strong>What's the Air like to drive?</strong></h2><p>On the road, the Air is silky smooth and breathtakingly quick. Smooth, Lucid's version of a comfort setting, is already spry enough to get your heart pumping. Swift dials up the acceleration even more. </p><p>Selecting Sprint, the most intense setting, prompts the car to ask if you're <em>really sure you want to do this</em> and unleashes every ounce of the Grand Touring Performance's 1,050 horsepower. Punch it and the Air instantaneously catapults itself forward with dizzying force, squishing you deep into your seat as you hold on for dear life. Lucid quotes a 0-60-mph time of 2.6 seconds. </p><div type="image" title="The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance." height="1667" width="2500" msid="100396999" hostid="261"></div><p>Even once you hit highway speeds, the Air feels like it's just warming up. Beware: It gets going so effortlessly that you'll be breaking the speed limit before you know it.</p><p>Flooring it repeatedly will drain the Air's battery quicker than calmly cruising along. But who cares when you have 446 miles of range at your disposal? All that range eliminates the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lucid-air-grand-touring-electric-car-range-fast-charging-test-2023-5">standard EV anxieties of running out of juice or hunting for the next charging station</a>. </p><div type="image" title="The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance." height="1667" width="2500" msid="100397000" hostid="261"></div><p>When I did start to run low, the Air charged up at lightning speed.</p><p>I stopped for 12 minutes and added 158 miles of estimated range, plenty to get me home and then some. That capability is a game changer for road trips, which can be a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/toyota-bz4x-electric-car-road-trip-charging-time-range-2023-4">time-consuming bummer in slower-charging cars</a>.</p><div type="image" title="The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance." height="1667" width="2500" msid="102612739" hostid="261" sizebytes="153266"></div><p>The Air comes with all manner of driver-assistance technology, like a crisp 360-degree camera that helps you maneuver in parking lots without dinging your extraordinarily expensive ride. This is especially welcome given the Air's beefy A-pillar, which creates a massive blind spot. Another nice touch: When you hit the turn signal, a live camera feed of the relevant blind spot pops up in the driver-facing display. </p><p>DreamDrive, Lucid's adaptive cruise control system, kept pace with traffic and confidently centered the car in its lane. If I glanced away from the road for too long, the car's driver-monitoring system took notice and scolded me. I did take issue with the aggressive lane-keeping feature, which forcefully took control of the car and was tough to wrest the wheel back from. </p><h2><strong>Our impressions: A stunningly good luxury EV, for those who can afford it </strong></h2><p>The Lucid Air is an extremely impressive product, offering all the range, performance, and charging convenience you could dream of — and more — in an incredibly novel and special-feeling package. But it faces increasingly stiff competition.</p><div type="image" title="The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance." height="1667" width="2500" msid="100397001" hostid="261"></div><p>When Lucid started up, it wasn't clear yet that practically the entire auto industry would place its full might behind the EV revolution. As a result, there are plenty of capable and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bmw-ix-vs-mercedes-benz-eqs-electric-luxury-suv-compared-2023-3">luxurious EVs</a> on offer from time-worn companies like Mercedes, Porsche, BMW, and Audi — companies that have decades of experience building quality vehicles and the vast dealer networks to support them. </p><p>Against that backdrop, buying from Lucid — or Rivian or Lordstown or Fisker — is a bit of a gamble. I can't tell you whether to support the old guard or place a bet with an up-and-comer. But I can confirm that the Air is tremendous. </p>

I drove the $180,000 Lucid Air and saw why it's one of the most impressive Tesla rivals yet

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Two Texas students face criminal charges after a 'fart spray' prank, according to multiple reports.</li><li>It is alleged the pair were charged with possession of a prohibited weapon — a third-degree felony. </li></ul><p>Two Texas students are facing felony charges after a prank involving "fart spray" sent several of their classmates to the hospital and caused school closure, according to multiple reports. </p><p>An 18-year-old and 17-year-old were charged with possession of a prohibited weapon — a third-degree felony — after a sickening odor permeated the halls of Caney Creek High School on May 3 and May 4.</p><p>Police allege the students "intentionally or knowingly" possessed "a chemical dispensing device," according to court reports, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fart-spray-prank-texas-school-leads-charges-students-rcna86426" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per NBC News.</a></p><p>The school was evacuated twice due to the pungent smell, and six students were taken to the hospital due to headaches and nausea, local news outlet ABC 13 <a href="https://abc13.com/caney-creek-high-school-fart-spray-teens-charged-accused-of-odor-that-evacuated/13295460/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The students were released on the same day. </p><p>Jeff Stichler, the school's principal, said multiple fire departments responded to the incident in a <a href="https://cchs.conroeisd.net/2023/05/05/5-5-23-update-from-dr-stichler/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement at the time</a>. The department later confirmed "the safety of the air quality at our campus" when the school was closed on May 5.  </p><p>Following a police investigation into the incident, authorities believe the odor was caused by Hensgaukt Fart Spray, per NBC. </p><p>Authorities did not comment extensively on the investigation, but the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office told ABC 13 there is evidence "this incident goes beyond the scope of a benign school prank."</p><p>The teenagers were arrested on May 12 and released on a $3,000 bond the same day. The pair could face up to 10 years in prison.</p><p>Their arrest warrants allege the fart spray was "capable of causing adverse psychological and physiological effects on a human being," <a href="https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/conroe-senior-prank-fart-spray-18120948.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> local news outlet MySA. </p><p>Officials said they reviewed school footage from May 4, which "showed the students recoiling and covering their noses and mouths with their hands and other items." The 17-year-old student later told police that he sprayed the can throughout the school, MySA reported.</p><p>Wendy Baker, an attorney for one of the teenagers, believes her client was "overcharged."</p><p>"I am completely offended that this young man has been charged with a third-degree felony, and if the State of Texas doesn't come to their senses soon, then we look forward to defending this case in a jury trial of Montgomery County citizens," Baker told NBC News in an email.</p>

High school students facing criminal charges after 'fart spray' prank sends classmates to hospital, say reports

The blanket of haze over Delhi thickened on Friday morning with the national capital's pollution levels increasing overnight by around 50 points, taking the overall air quality index to 459.<br /><br />A Central Pollution Control Board official said the AQI entered the "severe plus" or "emergency" category late Thursday night, the first time since January this year.<br /><br />If the air quality persists in the "severe plus" category for more than 48 hours, emergency measures such as odd-even car rationing scheme, banning entry of trucks, construction activities and shutting down schools are taken under the Graded Response Action Plan, the official said.<br /><br />The hazardous pollution levels forced a number of people to miss morning walks and other activities.<br /><br />Shubhomoy Sikdar, a Delhi-based journalist, said the pollution levels gave him a throat infection and he had to skip his daily sports session.<br /><br />Amanpreet Singh, a resident of <keyword id="1775695" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jangpura">Jangpura</keyword>, said he has been avoiding morning and evening walks and preferring to stay indoors.<br /><br />The number of masked faces continued to grow as the city remained shrouded in pungent haze for the fourth consecutive day.<br /><br />At 8.30 am, the capital's overall air quality index stood at 459. It was 410 at 8 pm on Thursday.<br /><br />All the 37 air quality monitoring stations across Delhi recorded the air quality in the severe category on Friday morning.<br /><br />Bawana was the most-polluted area with an AQI of 497, followed by Delhi Technological University (487), Wazirpur (485), Anand Vihar (484) and Vivek Vihar (482).<br /><br />Neighbouring Ghaziabad was the most-polluted city in the country, with the levels of PM2.5 -- tiny particulate matter less than 2.5 microns that can enter deep into the lungs -- reaching as high as 493.<br /><br />Greater <keyword id="18858" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Noida">Noida</keyword> (480), Noida (477), and <keyword id="47896" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Faridabad">Faridabad</keyword> (432) also breathed extremely polluted air.<br /><br />An AQI between 0-50 is considered good , 51-100 satisfactory , 101-200 moderate , 201-300 poor , 301-400 very poor , and 401-500 severe . Above 500 is severe-plus or emergency category.<br /><br />Delhi is impatiently hoping for favourable meteorological conditions to blow away the toxic air, as health experts said the hazardous air pollution has become a serious health concern for about 2 crore residents.<br /><br />"Intake of every 22 micrograms per <keyword id="6805104" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cubic-metre">cubic metre</keyword> of polluted air is equivalent to smoking a cigarette. So whether the PM2.5 level is 700 or 300 units, the impact is still as bad. People need to take precautions, especially those suffering from asthma, <keyword id="55923" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bronchitis">bronchitis</keyword> or other respiratory illness," said Dr Arvind Kumar, lung surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here.<br /><br />Weather experts said increased wind speed due to a fresh western disturbance approaching the northern region would help disperse pollutants faster from Saturday.<br /><br />Parents are a worried lot as health experts say children breathe faster, taking in more pollutants.<br /><br />Many took to Twitter to demand that schools be shut till the situation ameliorates.<br /><br />"We, as parents, request Delhi government to keep all schools (pvt and govt) shut for the time being," Anil Atri, a Delhi resident, posted on the microblogging site.<br /><br />"Whole Delhi air at hazardous levels now. Pollution at its peak. Activate all emergency measures. Close down schools @msisodia (sic)," another resident tweeted.<br /><br />Deputy Chief Minister <keyword id="6354681" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="manish-sisodia">Manish Sisodia</keyword> had on Wednesday said the decision to shut schools would be taken "when the need arises". In November 2017, the government had shut schools for a few days due to the deteriorating air quality.<br /><br />The government, however, started distributing 50 lakh N95 masks, considered one of the good quality masks for tackling smog, among school students in Delhi on Friday morning.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the BCCI said it would carry on with the India-Bangladesh T20 at the Feroz Shah Kotla grounds on Sunday, disregarding concerns raised by environmentalists about the health of players and thousands of spectators.<br /><br />The AQI takes into account five chief pollutants -- particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 micrometres (PM10), PM2.5, <keyword id="36673" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ozone">ozone</keyword> (O3), <keyword id="142405" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nitrogen-dioxide">nitrogen dioxide</keyword> (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO).<br /><br />The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and health concerns.

You Searched For "school closures due to air quality" and got 9 results

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