Thane pollution worsened during Diwali celebrations, with the city’s Air Quality Index rising from 95 before the festival to 150 on Lakshmi Pujan, according to an assessment by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). The civic body also recorded daytime noise levels of 81.3 decibels, well above the prescribed residential limit of 55 decibels.
The TMC’s Pollution Control Department monitored air quality at Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations in Kasarvadavali and Upvan, along with a manual monitoring station in Kopri, before and during the festival. The readings showed a sharp rise in particulate pollution during the celebrations.
Average PM10 concentration increased from 98 micrograms per cubic metre before Diwali to 157 micrograms per cubic metre on Lakshmi Pujan. The reading exceeded the prescribed limit of 100 micrograms per cubic metre. PM10 refers to inhalable particulate matter that can affect respiratory health, particularly among people with existing breathing conditions.
Nitrogen oxide levels rose from 39 to 42 micrograms per cubic metre, while sulphur dioxide increased from 16 to 30 micrograms per cubic metre. Both pollutants remained within their prescribed limits, according to the civic body’s assessment.
Thane’s AQI reading of 150 on Diwali was marginally lower than the 157 recorded on the same occasion in 2025, but higher than the 146 recorded in 2024. Despite the lower AQI compared with last year, PM10 concentrations were higher in 2026 than in 2025, highlighting the difference between the overall AQI reading and individual pollutant measurements.
The monitoring at Kopri also recorded a substantial increase in noise pollution. Before the festival, daytime noise stood at 68.8 decibels and nighttime noise at 58.3 decibels. On Lakshmi Pujan, the readings rose to 81.3 decibels during the day and 81.2 decibels at night.
The prescribed noise limits for residential areas are 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night. The Diwali readings therefore exceeded both limits. However, the levels were lower than those recorded during Diwali in the previous two years. Daytime and nighttime noise readings stood at 89.2 decibels in 2025 and 86 decibels in 2024, according to the comparison cited in the TMC assessment.
The data covers measurements from monitoring locations in different parts of Thane rather than a single citywide station. It nevertheless shows how festival-related activity coincided with higher particulate matter and noise levels at the monitored sites.
The TMC has appealed to residents to celebrate festivals responsibly, limit the use of firecrackers and follow measures intended to control noise pollution. The civic body’s monitoring programme and advisory remain the stated next steps for tracking air and noise conditions after the festival.
