The recent continuous rainfall in Visakhapatnam has provided much-needed relief to the city, greatly improving air quality and offering a reprieve from the pollution haze. The coastal city, which had been grappling with rising pollution levels in recent months, is now experiencing over a 50 percent improvement in air quality. According to IMD data, the Andhra Pradesh region saw a 27 percent increase in rainfall from June to August 2024, receiving 468.4 mm of rain compared to the normal 369.5 mm. Notably, June and July saw rainfall surpluses of 34 percent and 14 percent, respectively.
The heavy rains have led to a marked decrease in particulate matter (PM) levels in Visakhapatnam. Before the rains, air quality was deteriorating, with PM10 levels reaching 126 µg/m³ and PM2.5 levels rising to 43.5 µg/m³ by August 27. However, following the start of rainfall on August 28, pollution levels began to fall sharply. By August 31, PM10 levels had dropped to 31 µg/m³, and PM2.5 levels had decreased to 13 µg/m³. Although there was a slight rise on September 1, with PM10 at 46 µg/m³ and PM2.5 at 18 µg/m³, the overall air quality remains significantly improved. Veerendra, a representative from Vizag’s Pollution Control Board, attributed the notable reduction in air pollution to the rains, which facilitated a process known as coagulation.
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