Bengaluru’s air quality 98% better than last Deepavali, but noise pollution rises: KSPCB
Bengaluru: Bengaluru witnessed a significant improvement in air quality this Deepavali, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) showing a 98 percent improvement compared to last year’s festival and a 7 percent dip compared to normal days, according to data from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).
However, the city saw a noticeable increase in noise pollution levels during the festivities, as reported by Deccan Herald on Wednesday.
Monitoring stations at Majestic and Mysuru Road recorded AQI levels of 104 and 109, respectively — both slightly above the threshold considered safe.
Peenya saw a 52 percent rise in air pollution compared to pre-Deepavali levels, while Hoskote and Dasarahalli also recorded higher readings. In contrast, AQI showed improvement at stations in Mysuru Road, Hombegowda Nagar, Jayanagar, Hebbal and Silk Board Junction.
Officials attributed the better air quality to reduced traffic congestion, as many Bengaluru residents left the city to celebrate the festival in their hometowns.
Despite the improvement, AQI readings above 100 remain a concern, especially for individuals with lung or heart ailments, as well as among children and older adults.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
