Baddi Industrial are photo used for indicative purpose only
Shimla, Jan 29,
Asthma patients and people suffering from chronic respiratory ailments in Industrial belts of Himachal Pradesh must be finding a major respite as the the wet weather in previous few days may have ended their woes being caused by air pollution.
After remaining in the moderate to very poor category for nearly two months, air quality in Himachal Pradesh’s major industrial townships has improved significantly following repeated spells of rain and inclement weather.
The rainfall has acted as a natural cleanser, settling dust particles and washing away suspended pollutants, resulting in a sharp drop in the Air Quality Index (AQI) across the state.
The most notable improvement has been recorded in the Baddi industrial area, where the AQI dropped to 66 on Wednesday, marking the first day in January when the index fell below 100. For the past two months, Baddi’s AQI had largely remained in the poor and very poor zones, occasionally crossing alarming levels. Although rain on January 23 had brought some relief earlier, AQI had still hovered above 100. Continuous rainfall over the past two days finally cleared the pollution blanket hanging over the region. Officials said AQI was close to 80 around 10 am and improved further by afternoon as weather conditions remained clear.
Pollution Control Board officials said rainfall helped dust particles settle on the ground, especially those generated by mining activity, incomplete highway construction and heavy industrial traffic. Senior engineer Praveen Gupta said uncovered tipper trucks, dust from four-lane road construction and vehicular movement were major contributors to pollution in Baddi. Industries have been directed to strictly follow board guidelines, and action is taken wherever violations are found during inspections.
Air quality improvement was not limited to Baddi alone. Across all districts of Himachal Pradesh, AQI levels remained below 100. Paonta Sahib recorded 66, Damtal 51, Una 58 and Dharamshala 62, all falling in the satisfactory range. The best air quality was reported from Shimla and Sundernagar, where AQI stood at 27 and 42 respectively, placing both towns firmly in the good category. Industrial pockets such as Barotiwala, Nalagarh, Parwanoo, Kala Amb, Teliwal and Nangal Una also witnessed a visible decline in pollution levels following the rain.
Environmentalists Laxmi Chand Thakur and Balkishan recalled that before large-scale industrialisation in Baddi–Nalagarh, AQI levels used to remain below 50. They attributed the subsequent deterioration to unregulated mining in seasonal drains, rising industrial emissions, traffic pressure and poor road conditions. “Today, pollution levels here resemble those of major cities, and people often struggle to breathe,” they said.
Health experts said the improvement will particularly benefit asthma patients and people suffering from chronic respiratory ailments, though they cautioned against exposure to cold and moisture, which could trigger throat infections.
While the current improvement has brought relief, officials warned that unless issues such as poor road conditions, mining dust, construction activity and unchecked vehicular emissions are addressed, air quality may worsen again once dry weather returns.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
