Bhubaneswar: Air pollution levels surged across Odisha in the aftermath of Diwali celebrations on Sunday, with several monitoring stations recording ‘Severe’ and ‘Unhealthy’ Air Quality Index (AQI) readings on Monday.
According to real-time data from the AQI app, the highest AQI of 288 was reported at Kendujhar’s Bileipada, followed by 266 in Talcher and 207 in Bhubaneswar. All three locations fell under the ‘Poor’ to ‘Severe’ air quality category.
In the state capital, the Lingaraj Temple monitoring station registered 242, while Patia recorded elevated PM2.5 levels. PM10 concentrations in the Lingaraj area touched 500 the previous night.
Other cities including Kataka, Baripada, Baleshwar and Barbil remained in the ‘Moderate’ category. Additional readings from Bhubaneswar neighbourhoods showed AJ Colony at 214, Jagamar 205, Hanspal 210, Patia 196, Bapujinagar 208, BJB Nagar 209, Chintamanishwar area 211 and Lakshmisagar 199.
Residents reported thick smoke and haze blanketing several parts of Bhubaneswar after widespread bursting of firecrackers through the night. Visibility dropped sharply, with people saying they could barely see a few metres ahead. Smoke seeped indoors even with doors and windows closed, and many complained of breathing difficulties.
An AQI below 50 is considered ‘Good’, while readings above 200 indicate ‘Poor’ air quality and higher values enter the ‘Severe’ zone, posing significant health risks especially to children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions.
Despite awareness campaigns and enforcement efforts by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Odisha State Pollution Control Board and other agencies, pollution levels rose sharply following the festival.
