Kol sees moderate AQI as sunny weather and winds disperse pollutants
Times of India | 12 January 2026
Kolkata: The city recorded moderate air quality on Sunday, giving residents brief relief from the pollution episodes that often accompanied winter, as sunny skies and steady winds helped disperse contaminants despite the presence of thermal inversion.
Data from air quality monitoring stations across the city showed the Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the moderate category, with readings hovering between the low 100s and just above 200 in a few pockets. Ballygunge and Jadavpur recorded relatively higher AQI values, while Bidhannagar and Rabindra Sarobar saw comparatively cleaner air, reflecting local variations in traffic density and urban activity.
Meteorologists said early-morning thermal inversion restricted vertical air movement, but surface-level winds picked up as the day progressed, preventing a sharp build-up of particulate matter. "The combination of bright sunshine and moderate wind speed played a crucial role in dispersing pollutants," a weather official said. The lack of fog and haze, common during stagnant winter conditions, further improved visibility across the city.
Residents were seen outdoors in parks and along major thoroughfares, with many noting improved breathing comfort compared to previous days. Health experts cautioned that moderate AQI was not entirely harmless, especially for children, the elderly and those with respiratory ailments, and advised limiting prolonged outdoor exertion during early morning hours when inversion effects were strongest.
Environmentalists said Sunday's conditions should not lead to complacency, as vehicular emissions, construction dust and seasonal biomass burning in surrounding regions continued to pose risks to Kolkata's air quality.
Authorities remained hopeful pollution levels would stay in check, at least temporarily, before winter conditions tightened their grip.