Nagpur records worst air among Maharashtra's big cities with AQI 217, ahead of Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune

Nagpur's air was the worst among Maharashtra's major cities on the night of Sunday, November 8. According to data at 9 pm, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) was 217, raising concern over its deteriorating air.

At the same time, Pimpri-Chinchwad's AQI was 197 and Pune's was 161. Nagpur's figure was thus 20 points higher than Pimpri-Chinchwad's and 56 points higher than Pune's. Nagpur topped the list of the state's cities.

At 9 pm, the major cities of Maharashtra stood as follows: Nagpur 217, Pimpri-Chinchwad 197, Nashik 177, Pune 161, Navi Mumbai 150 and Mumbai 130.

Among cities, Nagpur was ahead, but the highest reading at any individual monitoring station was at Bhosari in Pimpri-Chinchwad, where the AQI was 236. Of the stations mentioned in the report, this is the highest. Other affected areas of Pimpri-Chinchwad included Savtamali Nagar (225), Gawalinagar (221) and Thergaon (215).

Dry weather has been cited as one reason pollution levels stay persistently high in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. With no rain, the pollutant particles suspended in the air are not being washed out on their own.

Nagpur's 217 falls in the 'poor' category of the Central Pollution Control Board's national AQI classification (201 to 300). Prolonged exposure to air at this level can cause breathing difficulty even in people with no existing respiratory illness.

In the days after Diwali, concern also persists over pollution from firecracker smoke, vehicle exhaust, road dust and other sources. Nagpur's latest figure raises questions about the city's pollution level and the need to monitor it closely.

The figures are taken from the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) Samir mobile app.