Massive increase in air pollution in Bengaluru during Deepavali

If people are coughing and sneezing more during and after Deepavali, there is a reason for it. Poor levels of air quality were recorded in parts of the city during the festival, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data from Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). However, a few monitoring stations saw better AQI levels compared to Deepavali last year. The Festival of Lights was celebrated enthusiastically by Bengalureans from Thursday, October 31 to Sunday, November 3.

The KSPCB compared the current AQI with that of the pre- Deepavali phase and found that at eleven recording stations, the AQI level has increased by 53.6 per cent compared to pre-Deepavali levels making it worse for city residents. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), anything less than 50 in AQI is considered "good," 51-100 being "satisfactory," 101-200 being "moderate," 201-300 being "poor," 301-400 being "very poor" and finally 401-500 being "Severe" The air quality in Hebbal dropped to "poor" while during the pre-Deepavali phase, it was satisfactory at a level of 75. However, on the first day of Deepavali (October 31) the AQI precariously dropped to 263.

Hebbal averaged an AQI of 185 across three days seeing an 146.7 per cent spike in pollution levels. Jigani on the outskirts of the city also suffered with a noticeable drop in air quality levels. From an AQI of 55 pre-Deepavali, it recorded AQI as low as 203 during the festival days. The 147.3 per cent jump in pollution levels may be the highest in the jurisdiction of Bengaluru District. Kasthurinagar(110.9 per cent), Saneguruvahalli in Basaveshwara Nagar (99.2 per cent), Peenya (93.8 per cent), NIMHANS (74.3 per cent), Jayanagar (64.2 per cent) and City Railway Station (61 per cent) saw spike in pollution levels.

However, when compared with the averages from Deepavali last year, a few areas in Bengaluru fared well. The AQI in Jayanagar (234 in 2023 to 112 in 2024) and Silk Board Junction(224 in 2023 to 106 in 2024) in South Bengaluru increased by around 50 per cent. Karnataka Vidyuth Karkhane Limited (KAVIKA) on Mysuru Road and NIMHANS are the other areas which saw improved air quality.