Multiple Vehicles Collide On Eastern Peripheral Expressway Due To Dense Fog, Several Injured

Greater Noida: Several vehicles collided near Bambawar village in Uttar Pradesh on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway due to dense fog, reports said. Several people were injured in the incident. The expressway encircles Delhi's eastern side.

According to reports, traffic is currently disrupted, as the police are investigating the incident. The accident took place in the backdrop of Delhi's air quality deteriorating sharply on Saturday morning. 

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 393 at around 8 am, placing it in the 'Very Poor' category. This was a continuation of poor air quality conditions observed on Friday. Several parts of the national capital remained enveloped in a dense layer of toxic smog. This severely affected visibility and caused discomfort to residents.

According to AQI categorisation, 0-50 is 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and 401-500 'severe'.

Earlier on Friday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that her government is working on multiple fronts to effectively and sustainably control pollution in the capital. She stated that eliminating dust pollution is among the government's top priorities. To achieve this goal, wall-to-wall roads are being constructed across Delhi at an 'accelerated' pace.

According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), CM Gupta said that to ensure there are no hurdles in road construction, MLAs have been provided with substantial funds amounting to several crores. She emphasised that pollution control cannot be achieved through government efforts alone; active public participation is equally important. 

Citizens must understand their role in reducing dust and smoke and act accordingly.CM Rekha Gupta further noted that flying dust is a major contributor to pollution in Delhi; therefore, wall-to-wall roads are an effective solution for ensuring long-term dust control along road edges. She instructed MLAs to ensure that all new construction or repair works adhere strictly to the wall-to-wall road model. She also clarified that if additional funds are required for this work, they will be provided immediately. (With ANI inputs)