Bhubaneswar: The air quality in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha has hit alarming levels, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 348 today at 1:13 pm.
As per the information received, the capital city’s air pollution has been worsening over the past two weeks, posing serious health risks to residents.
“People are breathing poison that’s entering their bloodstream, causing various health issues,” warns environmentalist Jay Krishna Panigrahi. The urban pollution crisis is worsening daily, with rising vehicle numbers, factory emissions, construction dust, and debris on roads contributing to the toxic mix.
“During winters, low air flow traps pollutants, creating a toxic layer,” says Panigrahi. With AQI above 300, Bhubaneswar’s atmosphere is in a very bad state.