The air quality in Kolkata turned more toxic than the country's most-polluted city Delhi as air quality index of the eastern metropolis turned 245 over the national capital's 240. With Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 count ranging between 153 and 313 micrograms per cubic meter, the air quality, as per World Health Organisation (WHO) standards is very poor and prolonged exposure to such poor quality air could lead to breathing problems.
While prolonged human activities such as reduction of green space, open space and encroachment of water bodies is said to be the major cause, sudden rise in vehicles plying the city streets during Durga Puja and bursting of firecrackers during the Durga idol immersion is said to be the reason behind the sudden spurt in PM 2.5 levels.
12 flights a week between Kolkata and Kuala Lumpur
The number of flights between Kolkata and Malaysia capital Kuala Lumpur rose to 12 every week after a Malaysian airliner started five days a week flights from Kolkata to Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian airliner Malindo Airways will operate a Boeing B737-800 with 162 seating capacoty and a B737-900 with 174 seating capacity between the two cities that is covered in 55 minutes. The increase in flights is likely to boost tourism in Malaysia with southeast Asia becoming a hit among the favourite tourist destinations of the West Bengal residents.
28 empty houses burgled during Durga Puja
Some 28 empty houses of city residents out of Kolkata were burgled during this Durga Puja season. Police found that nearly all the empty houses were not fully secure and all the burglaries took place during the peak Durga Puja timing in the evening when most people in the neighbourhood were out to visit the Durga Puja pandals. Seeing the modus operandi of the burglaries, police suspect that organised criminal gangs based in South 24 Parganas district may be behind the burglaries. Cash amount and other valuables including laptops were tagetted in the burglaries.
Post-Durga Puja viral fever spurt in city
Sudden change in weather and dip in temperatures due to effects of cyclone Titli during Durga Puja has led to a spurt in viral fever cases across the city, spreading dengue panic among many of the city residents. However, doctors suspect that patients are likely to have been affected by rhino virus, human meta-pneumo virus and influenza virus. They have suggested people to get NS1 test done, stay hydrated and use handkerchiefs during sneezing as the viruses are extremely contagious which explains its massive spread.