Ambient Air Quality Index of Shimla soared high for sensitive groups, PM2.5 concentration rose to 8.5 times more than normal
State Capital Shimla which is known as the queen of hills recorded a violation of the use of crackers on Diwali night leading to the air quality index of the town being 8.5 times more than the normal in Fine Particulate Matter of 2.5 microns beside this the Ambient air quality index of the town was 118 which was equal to the normal AAI of Industrial area Baddi in Solan district.
According to the latest national observatory indexes of the air quality available to us, the PM2.5 concentration in Shimla is currently 8.5 times the WHO annual air quality guidelines value. The WHO recommendation for such air pollution recommends reducing outdoor exercise like cycling, closing windows to avoid dirty outdoor air, sensitive groups should wear a mask while going outdoors, and running an air purifier.
The Shimla town which normally records AAI around 60 to 65 recorded 118 which was in the category of unhealthy for sensitive groups like asthmatic, TB, and chronic chest and pollen allergic groups. Pollutant PM2.5 was 42.5 microns per square meter. The Industrial area Baddi which was most polluted due to industrial pollution normally records 118 AAI on Diwali night and subsequently, the pollution level of Shimla was at par with the BBN. The rise in air pollution could be attributed to the poorly implemented ban on the use of firecrackers in the capital town and outskirts. Firecrackers were used in the suburbs without any checks leading to making the town most inhospitable for the vulnerable group.
The figures of IQ Air Index Report of AAI was 145 in Nahan the district headquarter of Sirmaur district, Paonta Sahib 143, Kalka( in HP – Haryana border) 139, Parwanoo 138, Badi 137, Kasauli and Nalagarh 135, Dagshai 132, Subathu and Solan 129, Rajgharh and Santokhgarh 126, Arki 121, Jutogh 119, Shimla 118, Bilaspur 117, Chaupal and Una 117, Kotkhai 112, Jubbal 110, Sundernagar 110, Hamirpur 109, Nadaun 107, Dera Gopipur 106, Sarkaghat 106, Jawalamukhi and Sujanpur Tira 105, Rohru, Mandi and Pandoh 104 and Nagrota 102.
