Post-Diwali spike in air pollution hits Himachal Pradesh, industrial areas see ‘very poor’ AQI
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Following Diwali celebrations, air quality levels in parts of Himachal Pradesh saw a significant dip, with several industrial regions reporting air quality that ranged from moderate to very poor, officials confirmed.
The average Air Quality Index (AQI) across the state climbed to 140 (moderate) this year, up from 92 last year.
In industrial zones like Baddi, pollution peaked with a "very poor" AQI of 392. Other affected areas included Parwanoo at 217, Poanta Sahib at 145, Barotiwala at 139, Nalagarh at 128, and Una at 122, according to data from the state's pollution control department.
The state’s capital, Shimla, maintained relatively better air quality with a satisfactory AQI of 66, an improvement from 78 last year. The district administration’s policy of allowing firecrackers only between 8 PM and 10 PM contributed to keeping pollution in check, though some violations occurred.
Officials noted that awareness about environmental impacts and increased availability of green crackers led many people to opt for more eco-friendly choices. In Dharamshala, air quality improved from an AQI of 140 last year to 109 this Diwali. Conversely, Manali experienced a rise in AQI from 55 in 2023 to 80 this year.
Despite these spikes, overall noise pollution declined by 20% compared to the previous year, offering a slight respite amid rising concerns over post-Diwali pollution levels.