Bihar air pollution worsened sharply after Diwali, with Patna City recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 356 and Buxar crossing 202 as several districts reported unhealthy conditions on Monday. The readings, attributed to a surge in pollution after extensive firecracker bursting, placed air quality across parts of the state in poor to very poor categories.
According to monitoring data from the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), recorded at 4pm on Monday, Patna City had the highest AQI among the districts listed, at 356 in the very poor zone. Hajipur followed with an AQI of 335, while Bettiah recorded 304. Ara reported 290 and Muzaffarpur 286.
Other districts also recorded elevated pollution levels. Siwan’s AQI stood at 256, Begusarai recorded 228 and Buxar reported 202. The Buxar reading had crossed 202 on Monday morning, indicating a significant deterioration in air quality after the festival.
The spread of high readings beyond Patna shows that the post-Diwali pollution spike was not limited to the state capital. Multiple district centres recorded AQI levels above 200, exposing residents to increased concentrations of particulate matter and other pollutants.
Chest specialist Dr Shailesh Kumar Srivastava said firecrackers release fine particulate matter, including PM2.5 and PM10. These particles can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and cause breathing difficulties, he said. Firecrackers also release gases such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which can further worsen air pollution and affect lung health.
The health risks are particularly relevant in the hours after celebrations, when pollution can remain concentrated near residential areas and roads. Dr Srivastava’s comments underline the connection between short-duration festival emissions and immediate respiratory exposure, although the supplied monitoring data does not establish the contribution of individual pollution sources beyond the reported attribution to firecracker use.
Environmental expert Raj Kumar Jha expressed concern over the rise in firecracker-related pollution and urged parents to discourage children from bursting crackers. He advised residents to minimise outdoor exposure, particularly during the morning hours when pollution levels remain high.
Jha also said public participation would be essential in tackling air pollution, adding that administrative measures alone would not be sufficient unless people adopted environment-friendly practices during festivals and other celebrations. His comments point to the challenge of managing pollution episodes that are linked not only to enforcement, but also to collective behaviour across urban and district settlements.
The BSPCB readings provide a snapshot of air quality across the listed districts on Monday, while the next monitoring updates will indicate whether pollution levels begin to ease or remain elevated. Residents have been advised to reduce outdoor exposure during periods of high pollution, especially in the morning.
