Residents of Chandigarh woke up to relatively clear skies on Thursday morning, only to witness a dramatic and concerning plunge in air quality as the day progressed. The city's atmosphere deteriorated sharply, transitioning from satisfactory and moderate levels in the early hours to poor and very poor categories by late evening, marking a significant pollution event.
City-Wide AQI Plunge: The Alarming Numbers
The data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) paints a stark picture of the rapid decline. The city's average Air Quality Index (AQI), which was recorded at 186 at 4:00 PM, worsened considerably to 233 by 10:00 PM. This steep drop indicates a widespread and intense surge in particulate matter and other pollutants across the Union Territory.
Sector-Wise Breakdown of the Pollution Spike
The deterioration followed a distinct pattern, with multiple key monitoring stations reporting a similar trend of a midday onset leading to severe evening pollution.
At the Sector 22 monitoring station, conditions began worsening after noon. The AQI shifted from the 'moderate' category directly into the 'very poor' bracket. The area registered its peak AQI of 339 at approximately 1:00 PM, a stark contrast to the day's minimum reading of 87 recorded around 8:00 AM.
The Sector 25 station mirrored this alarming pattern. Pollution levels here also spiked to the 'very poor' category at about 1:00 PM and remained dangerously elevated well into the night. This location saw its maximum AQI reach 336 around 6:00 PM.
Similarly, at the Sector 53 air monitoring location, the worst air quality of the day was reported at around 7:00 PM, when the AQI hit 337, firmly placing it in the 'very poor' range. This area also experienced a clear decline post-noon, with air quality dropping from moderate to very poor.
Evening Surge: The Most Polluted Period
The collective data from all stations underscores that the city experienced a pronounced and intense evening pollution surge. The period from late afternoon through the night emerged as one of the most polluted phases of the day in Chandigarh. This rapid degradation within a span of a few hours highlights the volatile nature of urban air quality and the impact of contributing factors like vehicular emissions, weather conditions, and possibly regional biomass burning.
The shift from moderate to very poor AQI levels carries significant health implications. Authorities typically advise sensitive groups, including children, the elderly, and those with respiratory or heart conditions, to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors when air quality enters the 'poor' and 'very poor' categories.
