Every winter, Calcutta’s air quality plummets with a drop in the mercury. “Moderate” — the best reading on Saturday morning, recorded at just two stations — is two levels below the best air quality. According to the air quality index (AQI), even “moderate” air quality can trigger breathing discomfort among people with asthma, lung disease and heart ailments. A drop to “poor” air quality can cause “breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure”, while “very poor” air can lead to “respiratory illness” on prolonged exposure. Replacing all coal-fired ovens with induction ovens that run on electricity can cut down the small eateries’ contribution to air pollution.

Source: The Telegraph December 28, 2025 01:51 UTC