After people busted crackers on Diwali night, the thick layer of smog engulfed the State capital Bhopal, leading to heavy pollution all across the city on Sunday night. The layer of smog combat its deteriorating air quality and Air Quality Index (AQI) touched 329 in Bhopal. Due to continue fireworks in festival, AQI was at 150 to 170 points around 10 pm while at 2 am in night, it increased to 329 (very poor category). While in the afternoon, AQI was in moderate condition. Almost all parts of the city recorded increase in AQI from afternoon to night hours. For past ten days, air quality of Bhopal is being recorded in very poor category. Earlier on November 7, AQI was recorded as 318. On Sunday midnight (12:05 am), Singrauli remained on top of the list with highest AQI as 377. Other cities including Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain, Betul, Ratlam and Dewas remain in poor category in terms of pollution level in the air. These cities recorded their AQI ranges from 200 to 377.

 

Experts said that if wind velocity remains stable, pollution level will be increasing in city by Monday night. They said that AQI generally increases in winters as the harmful gases exiting out from vehicles do not get expand during cold and it remain in surroundings. In many cases, harmful gases do not get dissolve in air due to cold and it increase the AQI level.

 

On Sunday, three major areas of city recorded AQI as Idgah Hills- 321, TT Nagar 329 and Shahpura 306. Brajesh Sharma, Regional Manager of Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB), said, “It is very common that pollution level increases in winters. If wind velocity or pressure decreases, then pollution level increases. However, this year people have burnt lesser crackers in comparison last year”