Such was the spike that four of the fifteen spots where the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board measured the ambient air quality showed an increase in Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) of more than three times above the standard level. All four are primarily residential zones, while the more industrialised areas recorded relatively less RSPM values, reveal the data collected by the board.

With the weather remaining foggier than usual, the bonfires resulted in a thick blanket of smoke that engulfed the city before the dawn – 13 of the 15 city corporation zones recorded higher PM10 levels than last year.

Poor visibility near Chennai airport disrupted flights, as it forced officials to divert planes arriving from London, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Dubai, Sharjah, Bahrain were diverted to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram and Colombo. Among the hundreds of air passengers who were stranded included Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, who had to wait from 6.30 am to 11 am to take the flight to Hyderabad.

Unlike the past when a committee headed by the District Collector, comprising heads of neighbouring village panchayats, would conduct awareness programmes on smoke-free Bhogi, there were no such initiatives this time, Airports Authority of India officials told DTNext. The impact of this was evident, as it took six hours for the smog to clear this year. Train services and road transport, too, were affected on Saturday due to poor visibility.

Meanwhile, a 62-year old man died after a car rammed his bi-cycle on NH45 near Maduranthakam, reportedly due to poor visibility. The deceased, Veeraragavan from Thirunagalur, was heading to his farm near Rettai Eri at 5 am when the accident happened. A car proceeding towards Tindivanam hit him from behind, throwing him off the bicycle. Melmaruvathur police took him to the hospital, where he was declared brought dead. A search is on for the driver who fled the spot.

According to pulmonologists in Chennai, exposure to harmful smoke could be particularly dangerous for those with respiratory diseases, and also infants. “It can be a cause of concern for persons with ailments like asthma or bronchitis,” said Dr Prasanna Kumar Thomas. Also, he added, infants are more susceptible as their respiratory tract is still undergoing transition.