As a huge quantity of pollutants have permeated the air during Diwali, and since rain has not occurred in the city to dissipate these pollutants, it has resulted in a spurt in cases of viral fever

This Diwali, there has been a rise in the air pollution levels in the city as compared to last year, according to the reports of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).

The MPCB monitors the air before and during Diwali every year to gauge the levels of air pollution during the festival. This year, it was found that there has been a significant rise in the pollution level.

Unlike past two years, Arera Colony residents had to put up with less decibel, indicating less inclination for bursting cracker this Diwali.

Respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM), which remains more than permissible limits even during normal days in the city, shot up on Diwali, giving a tough time to those with respiratory prob

Thanks to little campaigns by kids in schools, dissuading public from bursting crackers during Diwali, Punjabis kept their promise not to paint the green Diwali black this year.

SAFAR advises people with respiratory problems to stay indoors

MPCB's noise level monitoring across 15 locations shows blatant violation of permissible limits during 3 days of festival

Growing awareness about harmful crackers leads to decrease in RSPM.

The Millennium City had a quieter Diwali this year though the levels of air pollutants like sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM

Campaigns, awareness programmes seen as reason for less pollution

Campaigns and awareness programmes about ill effects of bursting crackers during Deepawali seems to have paid off as air pollution during the festival has come down by 31.6 per cent compared to statistics recorded during 2012 Deepawali days.