On Diwali night, residents of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, twin cities in Odisha, celebrated the celebration with a spectacular fireworks show, brazenly disregarding police prohibitions and pollution control regulations, leaving thick plumes of smoke in their wake.
Even though there were lights, colours, and enthusiasm during the celebrations, the skies turned gloomy and the air became unbreathable.
Several residents proceeded to burst crackers until after midnight, even though the Commissionerate Police had made it clear that fireworks were only allowed between 7 and 9 p.m.
As a result, visibility rapidly decreased, the air quality deteriorated, and the cities were filled with the pungent odour of burned chemicals.


In many places, visibility dropped to less than 200 meters in Bhubaneswar and just 50 meters in Cuttack, which was extremely inconvenient for both pedestrians and drivers.The Air Quality Index (AQI), which peaked in the "moderate" category after Diwali in 2024, may fall to the "poor" range this year, according to environmental specialists.
Authorities had previously warned that anybody who disregarded the time limits on using firecrackers would be subject to severe consequences. But as the skyline continued to blaze with light and sound until late at night, the enforcement seemed feeble.
The festival of lights served as a sombre reminder of the growing problem of air pollution and the public's disregard for environmental health, even if it also brought happiness and celebration to every corner.