The festive cheer of Diwali on Monday came at a steep environmental cost, as thick smoke from firecrackers blanketed Odisha’s major cities, severely affecting air quality and public health.

The twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, along with Puri and other urban areas, were engulfed in smoke, reducing visibility drastically and creating a suffocating atmosphere for residents.

In Bhubaneswar, the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed 180, entering a range considered harmful to health while in Cuttack it climbed to 190 on Tuesday.

Puri also experienced similarly poor conditions. During peak hours at night, AQI levels skyrocketed. At 7 pm it touched 657 and by 9 PM it was 595, indicating extremely hazardous pollution levels in the pilgrim town.

The smoke from firecrackers made it difficult f

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