Bhubaneswar: Air quality in Bhubaneswar deteriorated sharply on Diwali Sunday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossing the 1,000 mark to reach 1,091 at 9 pm, according to data available on AQI.in. The platform categorised the city’s air quality as “hazardous”.
The alarming reading came as Delhi, which has been grappling with severe air pollution, recorded an AQI of 720 at the same time.
According to AQI.in, the PM2.5 concentration in Bhubaneswar stood at 622 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m³), while PM10 levels reached 750 μg/m³ at 9 pm.
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The PM2.5 and PM10 readings indicate a high concentration of fine and coarse particulate matter in the city’s air. While PM2.5 particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs, PM10 particles can also enter the respiratory system.
The AQI reading of 1,091 puts Bhubaneswar’s air quality in the hazardous category on AQI.in’s scale, raising concerns over the city’s pollution levels.