Pune Cold Wave Coupled with Winter Winds Triggers Spike in Pollution, Air Quality Plunges

Pune’s air quality worsens as temperatures fall; AQI crosses 200-300 in many areas, raising health concerns across the city.

Pune |08 December 2025: As temperatures drop across Pune, the city is witnessing a sharp deterioration in air quality. Recent early morning lows — with places like Shivajinagar dipping to around 12.9 °C and other neighbourhoods recording even colder minimums — have kicked off a seasonal change. Meteorologists forecast further declines in night temperatures over the coming days, driven by cold northerly winds sweeping down from northern India.

The colder air, combined with stillness in wind and weak ventilation, has trapped pollutants near ground level. That has led to a steep rise in particulate matter across several pockets of the city. According to air-quality monitoring data, some areas have recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) readings as high as 260–300. Monitoring stations such as those in Shivajinagar, Lohegaon, Hadapsar and Bhumkar Nagar have shown particularly alarming numbers, with a handful slipping into ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ air quality categories.

The recent spike marks a dramatic shift from just a few weeks ago when air quality was relatively moderate. Experts attribute the decline to a convergence of factors: falling night-time temperatures, stagnant atmospheric conditions that prevent dispersion of pollutants, and persistent sources of emissions such as traffic, dust from road/construction sites, and burning of waste.

Medical professionals and public-health advisors are sounding the alarm. Prolonged exposure to high pollution levels, especially during cold, calm weather, can aggravate respiratory problems — particularly in children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing conditions like asthma or COPD. With the seasonal change underway, doctors recommend precautions such as reducing time spent outdoors, wearing masks (especially N95 or equivalent), avoiding physical exertion outside during peak pollution hours, and using air purifiers indoors.

For residents of Pune, the situation presents both a health challenge and a reminder of the limitations of urban infrastructure when it comes to air quality control. The combination of cold weather and increasing vehicular and construction emissions underscores the need for coordinated action — from dust control and waste-burning prevention to better traffic management and timely weather-pollution alerts.

As winter advances, the coming days will be critical. Observers warn that unless effective steps are taken — such as limiting pollution sources and enhancing air-quality monitoring — further dips in air quality could follow. For now, many Pune households are bracing for a season of “cold and smog,” with little relief in sight.

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