Surely, one of the contributing factors to this alarming statistic must be the practice of burning stubble (and not only stubble) in the open air on agricultural land. Anyone living or staying within kilometres of open land over the last few weeks will surely understand what I mean. Instead, those toxic fumes can only be avoided by blocking all apertures. No more toxic fumes, liberty to breathe relatively unpolluted air and not having to lock yourself if you do not want to be asphyxiated. It is high time that action is initiated by the authorities to make life for the silent majority more bearable.