Bengaluru air quality improves, thanks to rain

By Manjunath Hadimani | NT

Bengaluru: Recent summer showers might have thrown life out of gear in Bengaluru city, but they played a key role in improving the air quality.

This was revealed in the latest Air Quality Index (AQI) released by the Central Pollution Control Board on Wednesday. On April 19, Bengaluru’s AQI was 73. This was 24 points less than the measurement of 97 recorded on April 8.

AQI is an index for reporting air quality on a daily basis. It is a measure of how air pollution affects a person in a short span of time. AQI between 50 and 100 is considered to be satisfactory.

Srinivasulu, Member Secretary of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) said Bengaluru’s air quality improved mainly because of the rain that lashed different parts of the city. “Usually the AQI will be higher in summer and winter. The measurement comes down during monsoon because rain settles down particulate matter, which is the main constituent of air pollution,” he said.