Agartala recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 264 on October 26, ranking among 13 Indian cities with poor air quality, according to the CPCB. The reading raises concerns about pollution levels and potential health risks for vulnerable residents.
Tripura’s capital, Agartala, recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 264 on Monday, placing it among 13 cities across India in the ‘poor’ air quality category and registering the highest reading among them, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The latest reading has raised concerns about air pollution in Agartala and highlighted the need for closer monitoring to identify the factors contributing to deteriorating air quality in the city.
According to the CPCB’s daily air quality bulletin issued at 4 pm on October 26, monitoring data were assessed for 266 cities across the country. Of these, 20 cities recorded ‘good’ air quality, while 117 were classified as ‘satisfactory’ and 116 fell under the ‘moderate’ category. The remaining 13 cities registered AQI readings in the ‘poor’ category, with Agartala topping the list.
Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh recorded the second-highest AQI among these cities at 256, followed by Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan at 237. Paradip in Odisha and Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan both recorded an AQI of 235.
Under the CPCB’s air quality classification system, an AQI between 201 and 300 is considered ‘poor’. Exposure to air pollution at these levels can cause breathing discomfort, particularly among people with existing respiratory conditions. Children, older adults and individuals with other health vulnerabilities may also face increased risks.
The elevated AQI in Agartala has drawn attention to the importance of identifying local pollution sources and strengthening air quality management measures. However, the reported AQI figure alone does not establish the causes behind the deterioration.
Vehicular emissions, construction-related dust, road dust and other local pollution sources may need to be examined to determine their respective contributions. Pollutant-specific measurements and data from local air quality monitoring stations could help authorities understand which pollutants are driving the index upwards.
The reading also comes shortly after the festive period. However, the available data do not establish whether festival-related activities contributed to the high AQI. A comparison of air quality readings before, during and after the celebrations would be necessary to assess any possible connection.
Experts and authorities can also use historical records and consecutive daily AQI readings to determine whether Monday’s figure represents a temporary increase or a more persistent air pollution problem.
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Regular monitoring, identification of pollution sources and appropriate measures to control emissions and dust could help address the issue. Public awareness about air pollution and its health effects is also important, particularly for people who are more vulnerable to poor air quality.
The latest CPCB figures place Agartala among the Indian cities requiring attention because of poor air quality. Further monitoring and pollutant-level analysis will be important to establish the causes and assess whether the situation improves in the coming days.
