📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Karthikeyan321
Weather
Chennai’s air quality deteriorates sharply after Deepavali fireworks
✍️ DT Next
🗓 09 Nov 2026, 05:32 AM
👁 17
Air pollution levels in Chennai rose markedly following the Deepavali celebrations, according to local monitoring agencies.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board recorded a noticeable uptick in airborne pollutants in Chennai after the city’s Deepavali festivities. Observations from the city’s air‑quality monitoring stations showed that concentrations of fine particulate matter and other pollutants increased compared with the days preceding the holiday.
Officials linked the rise primarily to the extensive use of fireworks, which release a mixture of chemicals and fine ash into the atmosphere. The surge was compounded by higher traffic volumes as residents travelled for celebrations and by the temporary closure of some industrial units, which altered typical emission patterns.
Health advisories were issued by the state’s health department, urging vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions to limit outdoor exposure. The board said it would continue real‑time monitoring and provide updates as the situation evolves.
City authorities have reminded citizens to observe safety guidelines for fireworks and to consider eco‑friendly alternatives in future celebrations to mitigate similar spikes in air pollution.
Officials linked the rise primarily to the extensive use of fireworks, which release a mixture of chemicals and fine ash into the atmosphere. The surge was compounded by higher traffic volumes as residents travelled for celebrations and by the temporary closure of some industrial units, which altered typical emission patterns.
Health advisories were issued by the state’s health department, urging vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions to limit outdoor exposure. The board said it would continue real‑time monitoring and provide updates as the situation evolves.
City authorities have reminded citizens to observe safety guidelines for fireworks and to consider eco‑friendly alternatives in future celebrations to mitigate similar spikes in air pollution.