Cyclone Dana no more! Odisha, Bhubaneswar ducks Diwali 2024 but big daddy pollution coming from Pakistan

Bhubaneswar: This Diwali the Air quality Index in Odisha didn’t swing to red, except for Angul, and some districts (Sambalpur and Sundargarh) in western Odisha. But with Cyclone Dana no more, Odisha will be witnessing big daddy pollution come November 3, 4.

The northwest wind will be bringing heavy dose of PM 2.5 from Pakistan thanks to stubble burning in Pak’s Punjab province. The wind will be driving the PM 2.5 pollutants to Odisha via Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. Delhi AQI will also remain very poor for next 48 hours.

BHUBANESWAR DIWALI POLLUTION

Unlike in 2023, when the PM 2.5 hovered between 201 and 232 in Capital City Bhubaneswar, data with Odisha State Pollution Control Board has measured the AQI this Diwali touching a peak of 200 by midnight and hovered between 135 and 200 on October 31. As Diwali has been celebrated two days this year in the state, the AQI zoomed to 186 during the prime time (8PM onwards) on November 1. 

As per OSPCB sources, the spike in air pollution in the Capital City has been attributed to fireworks and fire crackers, because the AQI on October 30 swung between 66 and 100. 

The Central Pollution Control Board that released the average AQI of the Capital City has estimated the same at 135, and evaluated the air quality in the State Capital as moderate category.

WHY BHUBANESWAR AQI BETTER IN 2024? 

In fact, fireworks and fire crackers basically push up the Diwali pollution by upping the PM 2.5 pollutants in the air. Like all other Diwalis, this Diwali, too, PM 2.5 had been the major pollutant. But the 2023 OSPCB data showed PM 10 had been the major pollutant in 2023. The PM 10 level in Capital air swung between 357 and 428 in 2023.

The PM 10 was released into the air by vehicular emissions. In 2023, the vehicular/dust pollutant PM 10 hovered at over 200 on normal days. The Diwali rush nearly doubled it.

In 2024, Cyclone Dana rain till Oct 26/27 has played a major role in keeping in tight leash the fanning of PM 10 in the Capital air. 

In 2023, the PM 2.5 (emitted basically from tobacco smoke or firework smoke) that hovered between 201 and 232 has lingered at around 186 to 200 this year (Diwali 2024). Data suggest the spike had been around 4-times vis-à-vis pre-Diwali day.

ODISHA POLLUTION

The AQI data of OSPCB and CPCB show the following on Diwali day 2024.

• Cuttack had moderate pollution with average AQI measured at 101
• OSPCB data also suggest PM 2.5 has been the major pollutant in the Silver City.
• The AQI touched highest of 160 on Nov 1 at around 8 PM.
• As per CPCB data, Angul had been the most polluted city in Odisha.
• The AQI soared high to touch 259. Main pollutant had been PM 2.5.
• Rourkela had average AQI of 162 on Diwali Day
• But time wise data reveals the PM 2.5 at around 210 during the peak hours of 8 pm in the steel city.  

 BIG DADDY POLLUTION COMING

In next 48 hours, the air quality over whole of the State will turn red as the PM 2.5 level in air may touch around 300. 

As per the IMD forecast on pollution, smoke from stubble burning in Pakistan’s Punjab province will be winged up by the northwest air that drive the PM2.5 through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal to infuse into the air over Odisha. The forecast predict the PM 2.5 level rising to around 250-300 on November 4 in north Odisha, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and western Odisha districts.

With no rain forthcoming, and northwest/northeast wind dominating the air pattern over the State, air pollution will see a spike in the coming days, suggest forecast of IMD and Tropmet.

NO RESPITE FOR DELHI

As per tropmet's early warning, the air quality is likely to be in very Poor Category on Nov 2, 3, 4 and 5. 

The Delhi air pollution has been languishing in very poor category from last week of October onwards. The stubble burning in Pakistan is also impacting the India's national capital, as the northwest or northeast wind dominating the Delhi air post monsoon withdrawal.