Air pollution: Union minister Harsh Vardhan says Delhi situation not like Bhopal gas leak

Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday has asked people residing in Delhi not to panic over present air pollution situation in the National Capital and added that it is not like Bhopal gas tragedy which was an emergency.

The BJP minister said that there is no need to spread panic among the people over the present air pollution situation in Delhi.

The Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) has been under a thick blanket of smog over the last one week. Doctors of the state have declared the situation has a 'public health emergency', while the government has taken a series of measures in view of high pollution levels.

Vardhan said, “I am talking in practical terms. What happened in Bhopal when there was a gas leak and hundreds of thousands of people fell acutely sick and were rushed to hospital. We call than an emergency situation where you have to panic.”

He added, “I am not saying we shouldn’t do anything about it (Delhi smog). Every one had to respond to what he is supposed to do.”

Bhopal gas leak of 1984 is considered the world's worst industrial disaster where thousands of people died.

The environment minister had also said that the people of Delhi need not panic as several steps are being taken by the government to mitigate air pollution.

(With PTI inputs)