Pune city’s Air Quality may worsen due to bursting of fire crackers today  

After heavy, moderate rain on Friday, Pune saw a decrease in air pollution on Saturday; however, there’s a chance that fire cracker popping on Sunday will push Pune’s air quality down into the “poor” category.

According to SAFAR-IITM observations, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 73 on Saturday, indicating a satisfactory level of air quality. There were 44 micrograms of PM 2.5 and 71 micrograms of PM 10 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively, in the data.

The forecast indicates that in the upcoming 24 hours, the AQI may rise as high as 97.

SAFAR-IITM reports that PM10 and PM2.5 were 81 and 121 at Lohegaon, 99 and 121 at Shivajinagar, 45 and 44 at Pashan, 77 and 92 at Kothrud, 92 and 92 at Hadapsar, and 45 and 44 at Katraj.

Because firecrackers contain a variety of chemicals, an official from the PMC Environment Department stated that setting off a large number of them can release a significant number of emissions into the atmosphere. The air quality declines for at least two days while this emission is present in the atmosphere.

When people observed Lakshmi Pujan on the main day of the Diwali festival last year, the city’s air quality was rated as “satisfactory.” The measured levels of PM 2.5 and PMIO were 45 and 74 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively.

Along with the strong and moderate rains that fell on the city on Friday, a wind speed of 30 to 40 km/h was also recorded. This helped to settle down dust and other pollutants in the atmosphere as well as lessen air stagnation.

The city had partly cloudy skies and calm but active wind conditions the day before, on Saturday.

Shreyas Vange

Joyville