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Jaipur, Oct 21 (IANS) A day after Diwali celebrations, air quality deteriorated sharply across Rajasthan on Tuesday, with Bhiwadi (Khairthal-Tijara) among the top 10 most polluted cities in India.
The city’s air quality index (AQI) crossed 338, putting it in the red zone.
Several other cities including Jaipur, Ajmer, Alwar and Dholpur also reported severe to poor air quality with AQI levels exceeding 200.
Doctors have urged residents – especially those suffering from asthma or respiratory diseases – to take precautions as pollution levels rise.
On Monday, AQI levels were between 130 and 170 in many parts of the state. By Tuesday, they had climbed above 200, indicating a sharp rise after the festivities. Bhiwadi, part of the National Capital Region and a major industrial hub, recorded the highest AQI of 338.
Worrying figures were also reported in other cities, like AQI level in Dholpur was 264, AQI level was 239 in Ajmer, 218 in Alwar, 242 in Bharatpur, 21 in Churu and above 250 AQI in Jodhpur.
Shastri Nagar was the most polluted in Jaipur. In fact, all monitoring zones reported AQI levels above 200 in the state capital. 287 AQI was recorded in Shastri Nagar and Vidyadhar Nagar, 275 AQI in Sitapura, Pratap Nagar and Jagatpura, 256 AQI in Adarsh Nagar and Rajapark. AQI 238 was recorded in MI Road and boundary wall. Even on Monday, the air quality in these areas was recorded as moderate to poor, which worsened after the festival.
According to environmental experts, due to cloudy sky and lack of wind, the pollutants are trapped close to the ground.
Due to limited air movement and dense clouds, smoke and fine dust from firecrackers, vehicles and industrial emissions remain suspended in the lower atmosphere.
In terms of AQI in major cities, Bhiwadi had 289 AQI on October 20 while it was 338 on October 21; Dholpur had 245 AQI on October 20, 264 AQI on October 21; On October 20, AQI in Ajmer was 124 while on October 21 it was 239; Alwar had 125 AQI on October 20, while it was 218 on October 21; The AQI in Bharatpur was 115 while it was 242 on October 21; The AQI in Churu was 166 whereas on Tuesday it was 219. The AQI in Jodhpur was above 250 overall.
Experts have warned that the situation could persist for the next few days unless wind speeds increase or rain washes away the pollutants.
–IANS
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