Chandigarh Sees Better Air Quality This Diwali Than Previous Years

Chandigarh, which sits in the heart of the north Indian region grappling with seasonal pollution, recorded better air quality at most monitoring locations this Diwali compared to previous years, according to the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC). The improvement comes amid the ongoing debate over the contribution of stubble burning and firecrackers to deteriorating air quality in the national capital and surrounding areas.According to the CPCC, air quality remained in the 'Satisfactory' category before the permitted firecracker bursting window of 8 pm to 10 pm on November 8.

While the AQI rose at all six monitoring locations during the two-hour period, the spike was short-lived, with pollution levels returning to the 'Satisfactory' category by 3 am on November 9.The highest AQI during the bursting window was recorded at Sector 25 at 326, followed by PEC Sector 12 at 312, IMTECH Sector 39 at 310 and Sector 53 at 304. These locations briefly entered the 'Very Poor' category.