Jaipur: Like in past years, Diwali celebrations in Rajasthan have led to a significant rise in air pollution levels. The worst air quality was recorded at night in Bikaner and Jodhpur, where Air Quality Index (AQI) reached hazardous levels of 500.
On Thursday midnight, AQI peaked at 376 in Jaipur around midnight, though it improved to 244 by 9am on Friday due to the clear skies and strong sunlight. By 9am, different areas in Jaipur showed varied AQI levels: Adarsh Nagar, Raja Park, and Transport Nagar registered 181; Mansarovar, Ajmer Road, Gopalpura and Prithviraj Nagar had higher levels at 270; Sitapura, Vatika, Pratap Nagar and Jagatpura reached 323; Murlipura, Jhotwara, Kalwad Road and Niwaru Road reported 289. Shastri Nagar, VKI, Vidhyadhar Nagar and Ambabari recorded AQI levels above 224.
"On Saturday, too, AQI levels remained moderate and poor in many areas of Jaipur. Favourable weather conditions helped ease the pollution in the morning," said an official.
Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) reported that AQI levels across the state, especially in cities like Jaipur, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Udaipur, Bikaner and Jodhpur, ranged between 400 and 500 by Thursday night, entering the "severe" zone. The air quality in the severe zone affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases.
The highest morning pollution levels were observed in areas near Delhi-NCR and Haryana, including cities like Sikar, Bharatpur, Bhiwadi, Jhunjhunu, Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Ganganagar and Jaipur, with AQI ranging from 200 to 350. Other cities like Udaipur, Bhilwara, Rajsamand, Kota, and Ajmer saw red-zone AQI levels at night, though these dropped to between 100 and 200 by morning, indicating moderate to poor air quality.
Medical experts warned of health risks, particularly for the elderly and those with heart or respiratory conditions. A senior doctor at SMS Hospital in Jaipur advised people over 65 and those with heart and COPD conditions to wear masks in the days following Diwali.
"The smoke from firecrackers and the dust from Diwali cleaning can lead to respiratory infections and exacerbate breathing issues. We recommend vulnerable individuals to stay indoors as much as possible during this period," he said.