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Nagpur's Diwali Air Quality Hits 5-Year Worst
11 Nov
Summary
- Nagpur's Diwali AQI reached 272, the worst in five years.
- Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exceeded sensor limits in multiple areas.
- Air quality remained poor two days after Diwali celebrations concluded.
Nagpur recorded its most polluted Diwali in five years, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 272 on the morning after celebrations. This marks a significant post-festival deterioration compared to previous years, with readings surpassing 200 in 2022 and 2023.
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) reached critical levels, with monitoring equipment registering the upper limit of 500 micrograms per cubic metre in Ambazari, GPO Civil Lines, and Ram Nagar. Mahal also reported an extreme PM2.5 reading of 474.
Worryingly, the air quality did not recover quickly, remaining in the 'poor' category with an overall AQI of 242 two days after Diwali. Experts noted the severe impact of smog and firecracker smoke, especially with atmospheric inversion worsening the situation.
