By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: As winter sets in, air pollution levels are rising sharply across several districts of Bihar, including the capital, Patna. Today, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Raja Bazar, Patna, reached a hazardous level of 360, while Eco Park recorded an AQI of 341. Similar alarming trends are being observed in the Seemanchal region, where Araria recorded an AQI of 295, and Kishanganj registered 240.
Other districts also report deteriorating air quality. Bhagalpur’s AQI stands at 236, Saharsa at 227, Bihar Sharif at 252, and Rajgir at 278. In Muzaffarpur and Chapra, AQI levels reached 241 and 240, respectively, while Begusarai recorded 205.
Particulate Matter Levels Soar
Patna’s pollution problem is intensifying, with PM10 levels now four times higher than the standard and PM2.5 levels exceeding three times the acceptable limit. Residents in the capital are forced to inhale toxic air, a situation mirrored in Kishanganj and Araria, where dust particles in the atmosphere are rising alarmingly.
Despite consistent assurances from the Bihar State Pollution Control Board to curb pollution, no substantial improvement has been observed. As temperatures continue to plummet across Bihar, the worsening cold weather is coinciding with a sharp rise in air pollution, leaving residents struggling with deteriorating air quality.
