Like entering a 'gas chamber': Priyanka Gandhi on returning to Delhi from Wayanad

New Delhi: As she returned from Wayanad where she was fighting her Lok Sabha election, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday said coming back to Delhi was like 'entering a gas chamber', as air pollution peaked in the national capital.

On Thursday at 9 AM, the Air Quality Index of AQI in Delhi read 428 as it remained in the 'severe category' for a second day.

"Coming back to Delhi from Wayanad where the air is beautiful and the AQI is 35, was like entering a gas chamber. The blanket of smog is even more shocking when seen from the air," Priyanka, who went to Shanti Van to pay tributes to country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in the morning hours, posted on 'X'.

"Delhi’s pollution gets worse every year. We really should put our heads together and find a solution for cleaner air. It’s beyond this party or that, it’s practically impossible to breathe especially for kids, elders and those with respiratory issues. We just have to do something about it," she said.

Priyanka has been in Wayanad for 12 days between September 23 and November 13 campaigning. After the polling ended on Wednesday evening, she returned to the capital.

Delhi has been witnessing very poor air quality for days with AQI entering 'severe category' on Wednesday for the first this Winter. Hospitals have reported an increase people approaching for treating breathing related ailments.

On its part, Delhi government on Thursday said it would ensure strict enforcement of pollution control measures under the Graded Response Action Plan Stage 2 to combat deteriorating air quality in the city

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the worsening conditions is due to a combination of calm winds and a drop in temperature. He express hope that the situation would improve by Friday.

Rai cited studies to claim that 30 per cent of the pollution originated from local sources while 34% came from the neighbouring districts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh that fall under the National Capital Region.