Air pollution has been a major concern for Delhi for the last decade. It is considered one of the most polluted cities in the world. However, according to a report published by an Indian Express, dated October 26, 2022, Delhi saw one of the cleanest Diwali since 2015.
In the above context, an image of cars has gone viral on social media showing clear visibility. The image claims that it’s the high air quality of Delhi’s post-Diwali celebration in 2022.
The image is shared with a caption: “दृश्य धौला कुआँ(दक्षिण दिल्ली) का है! मैने पिछले 7 साल से आज तक दिवाली वाले दिन दिल्ली को इतना साफ नही देखा। दिल्ली के 2 करोड़ लोगों को बधाई.” (English translation: “The scene is of Dhaula Kuan (South Delhi)! I have not seen Delhi so clear on the day of Diwali since last seven years. Congratulations to two crore people of Delhi.”)
The link to the post can be seen here.
FACT CHECK
NewsMobile did the fact-check, and found it to be misleading.
On doing a Google Reverse Image Search, we found the same image published on the website Prokerala, dated August 11, 2022, with a caption: ” Traffic moves slow at Dhaula Kuan area due to Raksha Bandhan festival, in New Delhi on Thursday, Aug 11, 2022.”
We found the same image uploaded by The Economic Times on August 29, 2022. The report reads: “Work on beautification of an 8-km stretch of road from Dhaula Kuan to IGI Airport here will be completed in three months, and similar aesthetic upgrading projects in several other parts of the city will be undertaken in a phased manner, officials said on Sunday. Delhi Lt Governor V.K. Saxena on Sunday inspected the ongoing pilot project (spanning 1 km) of the aesthetic upgrade of the road from Dhaula Kuan to IGI Airport.”
Thus, we can ascertain that the viral claim is misleading as the image in circulation was taken before Diwali.
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