Diwali firecrackers choke Odisha cities; AQI reaches hazardous levels in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Puri

The festive cheer of Diwali on Monday came at a steep environmental cost, as thick smoke from firecrackers blanketed Odisha’s major cities, severely affecting air quality and public health. 

The twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, along with Puri and other urban areas, were engulfed in smoke, reducing visibility drastically and creating a suffocating atmosphere for residents.

In Bhubaneswar, the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed 180, entering a range considered harmful to health while in Cuttack it climbed to 190 on Tuesday. 

Puri also experienced similarly poor conditions. During peak hours at night, AQI levels skyrocketed. At 7 pm it touched 657 and by 9 PM it was 595, indicating extremely hazardous pollution levels in the pilgrim town.

The smoke from firecrackers made it difficult for motorists and pedestrians to navigate streets, with visibility dropping to less than 200 metres in several areas. Health experts have warned that such pollution can aggravate respiratory problems, eye irritation, and other health issues.

'Norms Flouted Blatantly'

Despite the Commissionerate Police permitting firecrackers only between 7 pm and 9 pm, many residents continued bursting crackers late into the night, worsening the situation. 

Environmentalists have urged citizens to adopt safer and cleaner ways to celebrate festivals to prevent further deterioration of air quality.

“The Odisha Pollution Control Board had directed people to use only green crackers and to light them between 7 PM and 9 PM. However, these directives were violated, and even today people are bursting firecrackers. The AQI in some parts of Bhubaneswar reached very poor levels yesterday, which can impact our health. Fortunately, the morning winds have eased the situation a bit. In comparison, Delhi’s AQI crossed the 500 mark, which is extremely serious and could have severe health consequences,” said environmentalist Jay Krushna Panigrahi.

Also Read: Thick smoke chokes Cuttack, Bhubaneswar after Diwali; air quality likely to slip to ‘poor’ category

The festival of lights, while joyous, highlighted the growing concern over air pollution in Odisha’s urban centres, raising alarms over public health and environmental safety.