This year’s Diwali celebrations in Visakhapatnam took a troubling turn as severe air pollution and fire-related incidents marred the city’s festive spirit. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) hit a dangerous 260+, indicating critically polluted conditions that threaten the health of residents, especially vulnerable groups like the elderly and children.
Data from the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board revealed a massive rise in particulate matter across multiple areas, pushing PM10 and PM2.5 levels well above safe limits. Citywide, PM10 levels averaged 233.3 μg/m³, nearly doubling from 122.9 μg/m³, while PM2.5 saw a jump from 52.2 μg/m³ to 110.4 μg/m³ during Diwali festivities. Gnanapuram registered the sharpest spike, with PM10 soaring from 134.0 to an alarming 307.0 μg/m³. Similarly, Mirdi saw levels leap from 121.0 to 301.0 μg/m³, and MVP Rythu Bazar from 89.0 to 266.0 μg/m³, highlighting the environmental impact of excessive fireworks.
The heavy pollution was accompanied by tragic incidents, including eight residents hospitalized for minor burns and, unfortunately, the loss of a 90-year-old resident. Additionally, a minor fire broke out at a cracker shop in Seethamdara, though, thankfully, it did not result in any casualties.
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) reported the cleanup of around 500 tonnes of cracker remnants following the celebrations, underscoring the scale of the event’s environmental toll. This year’s Diwali in Visakhapatnam raises urgent questions about the need for eco-friendly alternatives to fireworks and heightened public awareness to protect both health and the environment.
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