Air quality in Patna turned worse than Delhi on December 10, according to the latest figures from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Bihar capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 335 on Tuesday morning, placing it in the ‘severe’ and ‘unhealthy’ category. At the same time, Delhi’s Dwarka recorded an AQI of 326, making Patna’s air even more polluted than the national capital’s.
Samanpura marked as Patna’s biggest red zone
Samanpura, a densely populated locality in central Patna, registered an AQI of 335 at 7 am. The Bihar Pollution Control Board (BPCB) has already identified Samanpura and its neighbouring areas Ashiana, Khajpura and Raja Bazaar as red zones for continuously recording dangerously high pollution levels. These localities are barely a kilometre from Patna Zoo, considered a green zone, yet remain severely polluted.
Ten other Bihar cities record poor air quality
As winter temperatures dipped, ten more cities across Bihar reported a rise in pollution. These include Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Munger, Hajipur, Ara, Buxar, Biharsharif, Araria and Rajgir. All these cities recorded AQI levels above 200, falling under the ‘poor’ category. Bhagalpur recorded an AQI of 280, followed by Munger at 269 and Biharsharif at 259, showing a wide spread of polluted air across the state.
Doctors warn of rising respiratory problems
Health experts have raised alarm over the declining air quality. Hospitals in Patna and other cities have reported an increase in patients suffering from respiratory illnesses since early December. Many are complaining of breathlessness, chest uneasiness and suspected chest infections. Doctors at AIIMS Patna, PMCH, NMCH and IGIMS confirmed a sharp rise in respiratory and allergy-related cases due to poor air quality.
Shifting Ganga and biomass burning worsen pollution
A recent BPCB study found that the Ganga river is gradually shifting away from Patna, exposing loose soil and increasing dust in the air. Biomass burning around the city is adding to the pollution load. Large-scale construction work and continuous vehicular movement are further pushing pollution levels upward.
In response to the worsening situation, the Patna administration has increased water sprinkling on major roads and directed under-construction sites to remain fully covered to minimise dust. Officials are closely monitoring pollution hotspots as air quality continues to decline.
State’s pollution crisis not new
Bihar’s air pollution problem is longstanding. Seven cities from the state, including Patna, were listed in the 2024 World Air Quality Report by IQAir. Despite the current situation, BPCB officials claim that levels of harmful dust particles such as PM2.5 have decreased slightly compared to previous years.