Air quality levels in Uttarakhand have started deteriorating rapidly, prompting the Pollution Control Board (PCB) to take preventive measures. On Sunday, the board began using drones to spray water over dusty areas to reduce pollution. In Dehradun, three drones conducted sprinkling operations across nine major locations, including Ghantaghar, while one drone each was deployed in Rishikesh and Kashipur.
Officials said air quality in Dehradun, which remained satisfactory for the past five days, has now slipped into the moderate category. Similar changes were recorded in Kashipur, where the AQI rose from the satisfactory range on October 17 to the moderate range on October 18. Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Rudrapur also showed signs of declining air quality.
Pollution Control Board Member Secretary Dr. Parag Madhukar Dhakate informed that water sprinkling was carried out through nine drones covering 17 key locations across the three cities. The initiative will continue in the coming days to curb rising pollution levels.
