Patna: Patna’s air quality has deteriorated sharply as falling temperatures and slowing wind speeds trap pollutants across the city, with Samanpura entering the red zone on Saturday. The city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 162, while Samanpura’s AQI surged to 309 — one of the highest levels recorded this season.
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board shows that air conditions varied widely across the region. Rajgir reported the cleanest air with an AQI of 88, while Danapur registered 147, Sheikhpura 130 near the Planetarium, Muradpur 113 and Rajvanshi Nagar 138.
Officials said construction activity and poor road maintenance were major contributors to the spike in particulate matter in Samanpura, where dust has accumulated along large stretches of roadside.
Air Quality Index of Major Cities:
| Place | AQI |
|---|---|
| Araria | 111 |
| Aurangabad | 116 |
| Bhagalpur | 125 |
| Chhapra | 140 |
| Gaya | 145 |
| Hajipur | 156 |
| Motihari | 105 |
| Muzaffarpur | 103 |
| Siwan | 108 |
| Katihar | 92 |
Meteorologists attributed the broader rise in pollution to seasonal changes. As winter sets in, cooler air becomes denser and sinks, reducing wind speed and allowing pollutants to settle closer to the ground. Low humidity levels — common at this time of year — also prevent particulate matter from clumping together and falling, leaving it suspended in the air.
Mist and fog, both frequent in early winter, further trap pollutants and allow them to disperse through the lower atmosphere, worsening air quality.
With temperatures expected to fall further in the coming days, officials warn that pollution levels could rise unless curbs on dust and emissions are effectively enforced.
