PM 2.5 Levels Soar in Kolkata Amid Concerns of Increased Firecracker Usage During Kali Puja and Diwali

Environmental activists fear that if the situation is such on Friday, how bad it can turn from Sunday onwards when there will be prolonged burning of firecrackers on the occasion of Kali Puja and Diwali.

At least at four points in and around Kolkata, the PM 2.5 level has crossed the 300-mark, which is considered hazardous. The worst has been reported from Ballygunge in South Kolkata where the PM 2.5 level touched 356 on Friday.

The second among the four worst-hit areas is Bidhannagar on the outskirts of Kolkata where the PM 2.5 level has been recorded at 338. In the Rabindra Bharati University area, also on the outskirts of Kolkata, the level touched 320.

Environment activists are especially worried about the deteriorating PM 2.5 levels at Rabindra Sadan, as the Victoria Memorial and the Maidan, known as the 'Lungs of Kolkata', may be impacted.

According to experts, on average, the AQI recorded at Victoria Memorial is 202, which is considered as 'poor' because of the heavy vehicular pressure on the roads adjacent to it and the resulting auto-emission.

**

The above article has been published from a wire agency with minimal modifications to the headline and text.