Fire trucks to spray Indian capital amid deepening smog emergency

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) - India plans to use fire trucks to spray water over parts of its capital to combat toxic smog and dust that has triggered a pollution emergency, with conditions expected to worsen over the weekend.

Illegal crop burning in farm states surrounding New Delhi, vehicle exhausts and swirling construction dust have contributed to what has become an annual crisis.

Authorities will use the fire trucks in areas with high concentrations of toxic dust, said Ritesh Kumar Singh, an environment ministry official, after a meeting of civil servants from the city government and four neighbouring states.

Another ministry official who did not wish to be identified said water cannon - usually used by police for riot control - would also be employed.

“Sprinkling water is the only way to bring down the dangerous pollution levels,” said Shruti Bhardwaj, an environmental official charged with monitoring air quality.

The thick blanket of grey air and pollutants has enveloped Delhi for four days. A U.S. embassy measure of tiny PM 2.5 particles, showed a reading of 523 at nine a.m. yesterday.

The upper limit of “good” air is just 50.

PM 2.5 is about 30 times finer than a human hair. The particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs, causing heart attacks, strokes, cancer and respiratory diseases.

Delhi’s air has been consistently in the “hazardous” zone for days, despite measures such as a halt to construction and restrictions on car use including raising parking charges fourfold and a licence plate “oddeven” rule on alternate days. Commercial trucks are banned from the city unless they are transporting essential commodities.