Bilal Nibraas / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Cropped.
Bhopal woke up to dirtier air on Diwali morning than it did on the festival last year, even before the evening's fireworks began.
The air quality index at Paryavaran Parisar stood at 277 on Sunday morning, Amar Ujala reported, against 208 on Diwali day last year. Readings varied widely across the city. Saket Nagar recorded 261, Vardhman Green Park 244, TT Nagar 219, Itwara 218 and Arera Colony 203. Amarnath Colony was at 177 and Idgah Hills at 152, a gap of 125 points between the worst and the cleanest monitored areas.
An index above 200 falls in the "poor" band, where long exposure can cause breathing discomfort for most people. Smoke from fireworks usually pushes readings higher after dark, when calm, cool air keeps it close to the ground.
Hospitals have been told to prepare for that night. The health department has asked them to stay alert for burns, eye injuries from sparks and gunpowder, and breathing trouble from smoke. JP Hospital is setting up a separate eight bed burn unit this year, while Hamidia Hospital and AIIMS Bhopal have been asked to keep emergency care ready. About 40 ambulances are to be kept on standby.
The two concerns meet on the same evening. People with asthma or heart and lung conditions, older residents and young children are the most exposed to both the smoke and late night firecracker accidents. A morning reading does not decide how bad the night will be, but this year the city starts from a worse point than it did last Diwali.
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