Patna: Air quality deteriorated across 17 cities in Bihar on Sunday, with several urban centres recording polluted conditions. Saharsa reported the highest pollution level in the state, registering an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 219, placing it in the poor category.
In the state capital Patna, the worst air quality was recorded around Gandhi Maidan and the Taramandal (Planetarium) area. Gandhi Maidan registered an AQI of 215, while the nearby Planetarium area recorded 209. Other neighbourhoods reported varying levels of pollution, including Rajvanshi Nagar (170), Samnapura (154) and Danapur (106). The overall average AQI for Patna stood at 168, indicating moderately polluted conditions.
Elsewhere in the state, Munger recorded the cleanest air with an AQI of 46, falling within the good category. Air quality in Begusarai (91) and Bettiah (75) remained satisfactory, offering some relief compared with the more polluted urban centres.
The Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) said the rise in pollution levels is linked to changing weather conditions, including partial cloud cover and reduced wind speeds. These factors limit the dispersion of pollutants, allowing particulate matter to accumulate in the atmosphere.
Officials also pointed to Bihar’s geographical location and wind patterns as contributing factors. Winds moving from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana often carry pollutants into the state. Because wind speeds in Bihar are relatively low, these pollutants tend to remain trapped in the air for longer periods, leading to a noticeable increase in AQI levels.
In addition, construction activity in several cities has added to the pollution burden. Dust particles generated from building work accumulate in the lower layers of the atmosphere, further affecting air quality in urban areas.
Among cities reporting moderately polluted conditions were Kishanganj (188), Hajipur (170), Gaya (168), Arrah (165) and Chhapra (153). Other cities such as Motihari (146), Bhagalpur (146), Sheikhpura (144), Bihar Sharif (144), Buxar (124), Aurangabad (123), Araria (119), Muzaffarpur (119), Sasaram (115) and Rajgir (113) also recorded moderate levels of pollution.
Air quality levels are categorised based on the AQI scale, where 0–50 is considered good, 51–100 satisfactory, 101–200 moderately polluted, 201–300 poor, 301–400 very poor, and above 401 classified as severe.
