Nainital's Air Quality Plummets: PM 2.5 Levels Soar, Exceeding WHO Standards

• Nainital, once known for its pure air, now faces severe air pollution with PM 2.5 levels continuously rising.
• An ARIES report reveals average PM 2.5 levels of 50-60 micrograms/cubic meter, reaching 250-300 during summer, far exceeding WHO's safe limit of 15.
• Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) poses serious health risks, including respiratory and heart diseases, especially for vulnerable groups.
• Pollution sources include industrial emissions from plains (Delhi-NCR, Western UP, Haldwani-Bareilly belt) carried by wind, and local factors.
• Local contributors to pollution are increased tourist vehicles, unregulated construction, forest fires, and poor waste management.

Why It Matters: Nainital's air quality has drastically deteriorated due to rising PM 2.5, threatening health and tourism.