Bhubaneswar: Air quality deteriorated sharply across several urban centres on Friday, with seven towns in Odisha figuring among 10 cities nationwide that recorded ‘very poor’ air quality, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
As per the Air Quality Index (AQI) released by the CPCB, Talcher in Angul district emerged as the most polluted town in the country, registering an alarming AQI value of 380. Close behind was Angul town, which stood as the second most polluted city in India with an AQI of 346.
Besides Talcher and Angul, five other Odisha towns—Balasore, Baripada, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Keonjhar—also reported very poor air quality levels. The AQI stood at 318 in Balasore, 312 in Baripada, 317 in Bhubaneswar, 324 in Cuttack, and 311 in Keonjhar.
Outside Odisha, three cities—Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, Bikaner in Rajasthan and Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh—also fell under the ‘very poor’ category, with AQI readings of 341, 329 and 320, respectively.
Environmental experts have cautioned that prolonged exposure to very poor air quality can lead to serious health complications, particularly respiratory illnesses, aggravated asthma, and reduced lung function. Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly and people with pre-existing health conditions, are advised to limit outdoor activities.
The spike in pollution levels in industrial and urban clusters has once again raised concerns over emissions from industries, vehicular pollution, coal-based activities and inadequate mitigation measures, especially in regions like Angul-Talcher, known for their mining and heavy industrial footprint.
