Nagpur: Several parts of Nagpur turned virtual gas chambers on Sunday night, with a thick blanket of smoke engulfing the city, reducing visibility and exposing residents to dangerously high concentrations of particulate matter.
The impact was particularly severe in Ambazari, one of the city’s greenest neighbourhoods, where both PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations touched 500 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³), the upper limit of the monitoring scale. GPO and Ram Nagar monitoring stations also recorded PM2.5 at 500 µg/m³, while their PM10 levels stood at 484 and 475 µg/m³, respectively. Mahal recorded PM2.5 at 474 and PM10 at 416 µg/m³. The city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI), which crossed 200 by Sunday evening, climbed to 272 early Monday, indicating poor air quality. As per Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) 4pm bulletin on Nov 9, Nagpur’s AQI stood at 202, keeping it in the poor category even a day after Diwali. Pune recorded 292, while Pimpri-Chinchwad was worse at 301, falling in the very poor category. Mumbai’s AQI was 172 (moderate), while Chandrapur recorded 204, also classified as moderate in the bulletin. The adverse impact of increased AQI on respiratory health may take 1–2 weeks to become clinically evident, so continue with the precautions. ” GMCH professor Dr Sushant Meshram pointed out that exposure to high concentrations of fine particulate matter can irritate the respiratory tract and aggravate existing lung conditions. “PM2.5 particles are particularly concerning as they can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Nagpur air on Sunday night Monitoring station AQI – PM2.5 (µg/m³)- PM10 (µg/m³) Ambazari – 220—– 500 —————–500 Mahal —————–220 —————474 — 416 GPO ——————-318 ————–500 ——— 484 Ram Nagar — 278 ———- 500 – 475 You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Nagpur | Silver Rate in Nagpur | Bank Holidays in Nagpur | Public Holidays in Nagpur | Petrol Price in Nagpur | Diesel Price in Nagpur | CNG Price in Nagpur | LPG Price in Nagpur Stay updated with the latest Nagpur news.
IGGMCH professor Dr Gyanprasad Mishra said, “Asthma and COPD exacerbations are commonly triggered by environmental smoke and pollution. Children, senior citizens and people with asthma, COPD and cardiac conditions are especially vulnerable,” he said. The situation remained adverse through Monday, with pollution levels gradually receding from the extreme spikes. Experts attributed this spike in pollution to bursting of firecrackers on Diwali, with celebrations continuing from Sunday evening until the early hours of Monday. The deteriorating air quality poses a risk to people suffering from respiratory issues. Patients with these conditions are advised to remain indoors during this period and strictly avoid smoke exposure. Dr Sushant Meshram advised residents to avoid strenuous outdoor activity while pollution levels remain elevated and seek medical attention if they experience persistent coughing, breathlessness or chest discomfort. Download the TOI App.