Nagpur: Nagpur recorded its worst Diwali air pollution in five years, with the air quality index (AQI) touching 272 after Sunday’s celebrations, marking the sharpest post-festival deterioration since 2021.
Dr Prashant P Joshi, executive director, AIIMS Nagpur, said smog, sound and lights have a severe impact on blood sugar too. Usually, individuals are blamed for not leading a healthy lifestyle, but these factors go undetected,” he said. Environmentalist Suresh Chopne said every year the trend is getting ominous. Elderly are at a higher risk,” he said. Atmospheric inversion is already worsening air quality, and adding cracker smoke will only make the situation worse,” said MPCB regional officer Hema Deshpande.
The severity was evident on the ground too. “These three factors lead to release of stress hormones and sleepless nights, which are hidden risk factors. “Be it any type of celebration, whether it is marriage, political victory, or religious programmes, bursting crackers has become a fashion. As a society, we need to think of better ways to celebrate. The air pollution is anyway spiking every year. Nagpur is witnessing a steady rise in air pollution. As regards firecrackers, they release poisonous substances directly in the air and these chemicals harm without discrimination. “Diwali is the festival of lights. We must come out of darkness, not increase it through the smoke generated by firecrackers.
After sundown on Sunday, a thick blanket of firecracker smoke engulfed neighbourhoods, visibility dropped drastically, leaving citizens breathing toxic fumes long after fireworks subsided.