'No need to panic, it's not Bhopal gas tragedy', says Harsh Vardhan on Delhi pollution
Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan has claimed that the high level of dangerous pollution surrounding Delhi is no cause for alarm.
According to reports, Vardhan has said that with just 'routine precautions' the situation can get under control and there is no such 'emergency' which doctors have declared.
He has further gone on and justified that the 'Bhopal gas tragedy' was, in actuality, an emergency and the situation right now is nothing close.
Bhopal Gas tragedy, the world's worst industrial disaster took the lives of 25,000 people in 1984.
He said in an interview with the media that 'the Bhopal situation was a real crisis, where you have to panic and see what to do'
"I'm not saying we shouldn't do anything about it, everyone has to respond to what he is supposed to do. But there is no need to spread panic among the people," Vardhan told the media.
People took to Twitter in rage and expressed their thoughts.
Science & environment minister Harsh Vardhan says don't spread panic on foul air, it's not like Bhopal gas leak, so no emergency. Take routine precautions. Yes sir, when your house develops cracks and begins to shake, be calm. Remember, it's not an earthquake
— Subhendu Mukherjee (@subhendujee) November 15, 2017
No death certificate has the cause of death as pollution. No need to spread panic. Benchmark for an emergency is the Bhopal gas tragedy. And ladies and gentleman, this statement comes from Dr Harsh Vardhan, who was a former Health Minister. Slow Claps ??
— Aayush Sharma (ANI) (@AayushPrime) November 14, 2017
In Delhi on Tuesday, levels of PM2.5 - the tiny harmful particulates which can cause health issues were around 400 according to the US embassy website, deep in the "hazardous" level.
Delhi is said to be the world's most polluted capital according to the WHO, exceeding pollution levels in Beijing.