Health officials warn of severe pollution in Rajasthan’s major cities

Rajasthan's environmental monitors have issued a stark warning: air quality across the state remains in the "poor" to "very poor" categories, posing serious health risks.

Shri Ganganagar leads the distress list with an AQI of 272, followed by Alwar at 270 and Bikaner at 259. Additional districts reporting elevated indices include Hanumangarh (248), Churu (242), Bhiwadi (246), Chittorgarh (240), Kota (218) and Bharatpur (201).

In Jaipur, pollution hotspots persist. The Manasarovar ward recorded the highest AQI at 230, while the Police Commissionerate zone and Shastri Nagar logged 228 and 221 respectively. Slightly better readings were observed in Adarsh Nagar (163), Murli Puram (162) and Sitapura (157), yet all exceed the WHO's recommended safe limit.

The lingering haze stems from multiple sources: residual firecracker particles from Diwali, unchecked vehicular emissions, industrial discharge, construction dust and road‑side sand. The combined effect has kept pollutant concentrations high despite the festival's conclusion.

Public health experts stress that people with asthma, COPD, or cardiovascular ailments are especially vulnerable. They recommend staying indoors during high‑pollution periods, using air purifiers where possible, and seeking immediate medical attention if symptoms such as coughing, throat irritation or breathlessness worsen.