Air quality improved across several Uttarakhand cities on 9 November, after Diwali fireworks pushed the Air Quality Index (AQI) into the poor category in Dehradun, Kashipur and Rudrapur.

The AQI in all 3 cities moved from poor to moderate the day after Diwali. The improvement followed a broader decline in air-quality readings compared with the previous day.

Air quality improves in 3 cities

The Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board is monitoring air quality in Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Tehri, Rudrapur, Kashipur, Haldwani and Nainital.

On Diwali, Dehradun, Kashipur and Rudrapur recorded AQI readings in the poor category. By 9 November, all 3 cities had moved into the moderate category.

Haldwani, Rishikesh, Nainital and Haridwar remained in the moderate category. These cities also recorded improvement compared with the previous day.

The changes indicate that the pollution impact recorded after Diwali was not uniform across the cities being monitored. While 3 cities moved out of the poor category, 4 others remained moderate with improved readings.

Tehri recorded the best air quality

Tehri had the best air quality in Uttarakhand during the period from 1 November to 9 November. Its AQI was recorded in the good category on 5 days during this period.

On the remaining 4 days, Tehri’s AQI was in the satisfactory category. Even during those days, the city’s air quality showed improvement.

The monitoring data provides a city-wise picture of air quality after Diwali. Dehradun, Kashipur and Rudrapur saw the clearest category-level improvement, while Tehri remained the strongest performer during the first 9 days of November.

Conclusion

Air quality improved on 9 November in Dehradun, Kashipur and Rudrapur, with all 3 moving from poor to moderate AQI. Tehri recorded Uttarakhand’s best air quality between 1 November and 9 November.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Which Uttarakhand cities improved from poor to moderate AQI?

Dehradun, Kashipur and Rudrapur improved from the poor category to the moderate category on 9 November.

Q. Which cities remained in the moderate AQI category?

Haldwani, Rishikesh, Nainital and Haridwar remained in the moderate category and also recorded improvement from the previous day.

Q. Which city had Uttarakhand’s best air quality?

Tehri recorded the best air quality in the state between 1 November and 9 November.

Q. How many days did Tehri record good AQI during this period?

Tehri recorded AQI in the good category on 5 days between 1 November and 9 November.

Q. Which organisation is monitoring air quality in Uttarakhand?

The Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board is monitoring air quality in 8 cities across the state.