Severe Air Quality Alert in India's Cleanest City

Indore, known as India's cleanest city, experienced a sharp decline in air quality, breaching the 'severe' category with an Air Quality Index of 404. The degradation is attributed to Diwali fireworks and stagnant winds, with vehicular pollution and road dust as major contributors.

Indore, renowned nationwide for its stellar cleanliness record, has witnessed an alarming surge in air pollution, marking a severe breach in air quality standards. On Friday, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) hit an alarming 404, indicative of severely compromised atmospheric conditions, as recorded in the Chhoti Gwaltoli area.

Data from the State Pollution Control Board revealed significant particulate matter levels, with PM 2.5 at an average of 255.26 and PM 10 at 318.08. The densely populated Chhoti Gwaltoli, subject to heavy vehicular traffic, appears at the epicenter of this environmental crisis, exacerbated by ongoing Diwali celebrations involving extensive fireworks.

Dr. Dilip Vaghela, an environmental expert, highlighted the compounded effect of calm winds, which failed to disperse pollutants, resulting in their accumulation. Despite its reputation for effective waste management and environmental benchmarks, Indore faces challenges from vehicular pollution and road dust, the latter contributing notably to the city's air quality decline.

(With inputs from agencies.)