Escaping Smog: Dehradun's Struggle with Air Pollution

Dehradun, previously a serene escape from Delhi's smog, is seeing its air quality plummet due to vehicular traffic, waste burning, and forest fires. The city's AQI has recently reached concerning levels. While Uttarakhand attracts tourists seeking cleaner air, rising pollution poses a threat to both health and tourism.

As Delhi's air quality deteriorates, residents seeking refuge in Dehradun might not find relief, as the hill city's Air Quality Index (AQI) slips to the 'poor' category. Experts attribute this decline to increasing vehicular traffic, waste burning, and forest fires.

Professor Vijay Shridhar of Doon University reports that Dehradun's AQI recently hit 291, verging on 'severely polluted'. Despite this, tourism flourishes in Uttarakhand with destinations like Corbett Park offering a respite. The influx, however, stirs concerns about increased pollution and traffic in these serene locales.

Local residents raise alarms over the degrading air quality, emphasizing deforestation and traffic as culprits exacerbating pollution levels. Experts warn that if unaddressed, Dehradun may closely mirror Delhi's pollution crisis, posing serious health risks to its inhabitants.

(With inputs from agencies.)