Post Diwali burst, air quality slips to very poor in Bhubaneswar & Cuttack

Bhubaneswar: Twin Cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack woke up to thick smog on Saturday, leading to significant air pollution and decreased visibility post-Diwali celebrations. The air quality in the cities fell to ‘poor’ after firecrackers burst for two days on Diwali and November 1. The air quality has dropped significantly as firecrackers filled the sky, blanketing the city in thick smog.

Despite strict guidelines limiting firecrackers to bursting until 9 pm, residents here were seen celebrating with fireworks until late at night, adding to the thick smog that covered the cities. As per early reports, the air quality index has breached 200 from 60-70 in Bhubaneswar.

This is categorized as ‘poor’, raising health concerns for residents. Residents of the twin cities expressed growing concerns over pollution levels linked to Diwali celebrations.

“I’m wearing a mask because I know no one bothers to follow the guidelines. As it is a day for celebration, we cannot stop anyone from blaming firecrackers. But, people should understand their responsibilities. Yes, we should celebrate, but bursting firecrackers day and night is not the solution. We should ensure proper celebration because there are hospitals around and hundreds of children and elderly people can face problems,” a local said.

The pollution problem extended beyond the twin cities, with Puri, Balasore, Sambalpur, and many other places also experiencing smog and poor air quality.