Patna: The air quality in Bihar’s capital has worsened sharply, with Patna’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting 196 on Tuesday — firmly in the “poor” category. The Samanpura area recorded an alarming AQI of 334, while the Danapur railway yard reported 213, both hovering in the “very poor” range.
Just two weeks ago, heavy rain had cleared the city’s air, bringing AQI levels down to 50–60. But the respite was short-lived. A cloud of dust has since returned, with construction near the Veterinary College in Samanpura cited as the main contributor. Excavation and soil-laden trucks have filled the air with fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), which are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs.
Residents say they are already feeling the effects. “There’s constant irritation in the eyes and throat,” said Manoj Kumar, a local shopkeeper. “Dust from trucks and construction doesn’t settle even by nightfall.”
The Danapur railway yard is facing similar conditions, where cement and grain unloading has turned the air thick with particulate matter. Shopkeepers allege that authorities rarely sprinkle water to suppress dust, allowing smog to linger for hours.
Monitoring stations reported AQI levels of 334 in Samanpura, 213 near the Danapur DRM office, 182 in Muradpur, and 172 in Rajiv Nagar. Any AQI above 200 poses a serious health risk, especially to children, the elderly, and people with respiratory illnesses.
The Bihar State Pollution Control Board has issued notices to both the Samanpura construction agency and Danapur Railway Yard. Chairman D.K. Shukla warned, “Strict action will be taken against those violating dust control norms. Continuous monitoring is underway, and no area will be spared.”
