Post-Diwali, Varasi air quality hits dangerous levels

Varasi, Nov 2: Air pollution in Varasi reached dangerous levels during the festival of Diwali, a report said on Wednesday. A research on Varasi’s post-Diwali air quality was conducted by the Care4Air Campaign on October 31, based on air quality data collected from 13 major locations in the city. The research found that the air quality was way below the Indian government standards, not to speak of WHO standards, an official said. According to the research report, PM 2.5 particles rose much above even the alarming levels, and in certain parts of the city like Sorpura, Machhodari, Lanka, Godauliya and Sarth, the levels were 15 to 20 times above the norms set by the government of India. A press conference was organised by the Whistle Blower Trust here to share the air quality data from all the 13 locations of the city. The central government has set a standard of 60 micrograms per cubic metre (mpcm), but in Sorpura area the PM 2.5 reached as high as 999 mpcm.  (IANS)