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Bengaluru's Nights Choked by Toxic Smoke
27 Apr
Summary
- Residents report mornings begin with burning waste smell and smoke.
- Air quality monitors show PM2.5 spikes, AQI reached 488.
- Similar pollution issues reported in Rampura, east Bengaluru.
Residents on Bengaluru's southwestern edge, specifically in Kambipura near Kumbalgodu, are experiencing severe air pollution. Chronic issues with burning waste and thick black smoke have become a daily reality, affecting air quality and residents' health. Air quality monitors in the neighborhood have registered sharp surges in PM2.5 levels, with an AQI of 488 recorded around 1 AM on April 23rd, as reported by residents.
The problem, which residents claim has persisted for years, intensifies between 1 AM and 3 AM. This nightly pollution forces families to shut windows, use air purifiers, and rely on inhalers. Some residents allege that factories are involved, burning residual waste like rubber and plastic daily. Petitions have been submitted to the Central and Karnataka State Pollution Control Boards, seeking a more effective response.
Similar complaints are emerging from other areas, including Rampura in east Bengaluru. Residents there report prolonged exposure to smoke from waste burning at a plastic shredding unit, with non-recyclable and medical refuse allegedly being burnt. These recurring issues in Bengaluru's expanding outskirts highlight a significant gap in civic systems and environmental oversight.
