A SHARP spike in air pollution was recorded on the very first day of the New Year, 2026, indicating that while the year and dates have changed, the region’s environmental concerns remain firmly in place. Bhopal, Indore, and Ujjain, three major cities of Madhya Pradesh, entered the New Year with deteriorating air quality, carrying forward the same pollution burden into another year. According to air quality monitoring data, pollution levels surged dramatically during the night of December 31 and continued into January 1.

 

Indore recorded a severe AQI of 366, while Ujjain touched 302, both falling under the very poor category. Bhopal also witnessed a sharp rise, with AQI readings of 278 at Paryavaran Parisar, 264 at the Collectorate, and 273 at TT Nagar, all indicating poor air quality. In all three cities, PM 2.5 and PM 10 emerged as the dominant pollutants, a matter of serious concern due to its harmful impact on respiratory and cardiovascular health.

 

The spike appears particularly stark when compared with conditions just days earlier. On December 30, 2025, air quality across the three cities was within the moderate category. Bhopal recorded an AQI of 177, Indore 127, and Ujjain 198. However, by December 31, pollution levels rose sharply, with Bhopal touching 200, Indore 211, and Ujjain 302, signalling a rapid deterioration within 24 hours.

 

The escalation continued into the New Year, underscoring how seasonal and human factors combined to worsen air quality. Speaking on the issue, Brajesh Sharma, Regional Officer, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB), said that along with other conventional reasons, increased public and vehicular movement during New Year celebrations could be a prominent factor behind the sudden spike.

 

He explained that large scale movement of people for celebrations leads to higher vehicle emissions, which, when coupled with winter conditions, significantly degrades air quality. Sharma further pointed out that rising winter intensity, low wind speeds, temperature inversion, and reduced dispersion capacity of the atmosphere play a crucial role in trapping pollutants near the ground.

 

Routine contributors such as traffic congestion, construction activities, road dust, and biomass burning also add to the pollution load during this period. As part of mitigation measures, MPPCB has stressed on solutions such as regular sprinkling of water to suppress dust, stricter monitoring of vehicular emissions, and better traffic management during high-movement periods.

 

Public co-operation, experts say, is equally critical. Health experts warn that repeated exposure to such pollution levels can lead to breathing difficulties, eye irritation, and long-term health complications.