Kolkata Air Quality Hits Season Worst

Kolkata experienced a sharp decline in air quality on Tuesday, reaching its worst level for the season. This deterioration occurred despite rising temperatures, which typically aid in dispersing pollutants.

For the first time this year, three of the city's seven continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations reported air quality within the 'very poor' category. The Ballygunge, JU, and RBU stations recorded AQI levels of 311, 313, and 355, respectively, by Wednesday morning, signaling a significant public health concern.

Atmospheric scientists pointed to ongoing emission sources, such as vehicular exhaust, construction dust, and localized industrial activities, as the primary drivers of this pollution spike. They emphasized that meteorological factors alone were not responsible and stressed the need for stringent enforcement of pollution control measures.

Public health specialists advised vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions, to minimize outdoor exposure. Recommendations included improving traffic management and implementing effective dust suppression strategies at construction sites to mitigate the health risks posed by the unhealthy air.