Monsoon rains subside, air quality deteriorates in Baddi

The pothole-ridden and dusty Baddi-Nalagarh National Highway (NH)-105 is triggering health concerns as the air quality index (AQI) has registered unhealthy levels.

The city’s AQI climbed to 155 this evening around 5:00 pm which was about 50 per cent more than the safe limit of 100. The residents, however, experienced a slight improvement as AQI of 179 was recorded last evening taking Baddi to the second most polluted city nationally as per the air monitoring by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Its level has remained unhealthy in the last three days at 162, 187 and 172, triggering health concerns among the residents.

The safe limit of PM is 100. Prominent pollutants contributing to Baddi’s unhealthy air comprise particles with diameter of 10 micrometres or less. These are small enough to pass through the nose and throat. They can enter lungs, where they can trigger several disease of the lung and respiratory tract.

The roads abound in dust which settles on the vehicles as well as buildings and also causes discomfort to people. Road construction activities and industrial emission underway in the Baddi area trigger pollutants. The residents did experience a temporary relief during the rains when PM level plummeted to as low as 45 -88 in the first week of September but its level has been rising steeply ever since the rains subsided.