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

Thick layers of smoke blanketed Odisha’s twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar  on Diwali night as residents celebrated the festival with an intense display of fireworks, openly defying pollution control norms and police restrictions. 

The celebrations, though filled with lights, colours and excitement, turned the skies grey and the air unbreathable.

Despite clear instructions from the Commissionerate Police restricting fireworks between 7 pm and 9 pm, several residents continued bursting crackers well past midnight. 

As a result, the air quality deteriorated sharply, visibility dropped drastically, and an acrid smell of burnt chemicals lingered across the cities.

In many areas, visibility fell below 200 metre in Bhubaneswar and a mere 50 metre in Cuttack, causing major inconvenience to motorists and pedestrians alike.
 
Meanwhile, environmental experts warned that the Air Quality Index (AQI), which touched the “moderate” category post-Diwali in 2024, could dip to the “poor” range this year.

Authorities had earlier issued strong warnings, stating that violators would face strict action for flouting the time restrictions on firecracker use. However, the enforcement appeared weak as the skyline continued to burst with light and sound till late night.

Also Read: Radiant Odisha! Diwali night turns into a spectacle of light and devotion

While the festival of lights brought joy and festivity to every corner, it also served as a grim reminder of the growing challenge of air pollution and public indifference toward environmental health.