3 UP cities figure among most polluted in country

LUCKNOW: Kanpur turned out to be the third most polluted city in the country on Tuesday with an AQI lagging behind Lucknow — the most polluted — by just 36 units.
According to the Air Quality Index (AQI) of 44 cities monitored by Central Pollution Control Board, Kanpur’s AQI was 448, rising by 27 units as compared to Monday. Kanpur AQI was 140 units more than that of Delhi which is struggling with high pollution levels.However, Ghaziabad with AQI of 467 was the second most polluted city.
Varanasi followed Kanpur with AQI at 400 after being the most polluted city in the country on November 10 with AQI 491. The air was ‘severely’ polluted with the prominent concentration of the pollutant PM2.5.
Agra, which was country’s third most polluted city on Saturday with AQI 450, improved on Tuesday. However, at AQI of 377 it was more polluted than Delhi with the hazardous PM2.5 being the prominent pollutant. In Varanasi, doctors have issued a warning for the patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
“More than 50% of patients admitted here are of COPD. We are trying to raise awareness about the disease. People should remain alert about the side-effects of smog,” said Prof S K Agrawal of the department of chest diseases, Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU.