Amritsar, Jalandhar face sharp rise in air pollution following Diwali

Jalandhar: A day after Diwali celebrations, air pollution levels in Amritsar and Jalandhar spiked dramatically, with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) surpassing 350 in both cities.

The AQI reached 369 yesterday, falling within the “very poor” category, marking the third consecutive day with readings over 300.

The morning in Amritsar was foggy, and by evening, visibility had dropped significantly. Motorists were forced to turn on headlights early in the day due to reduced visibility. The presence of particulate matter (PM2.5) also rose sharply, impacting air quality across the region.

Reports attribute the increase in pollution to the large number of firecrackers set off during Diwali celebrations.

Former BJP minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla criticized the administration, commenting that officials “slept while firecrackers continued throughout the night.” Chawla urged the government to implement stricter measures to control pollution spikes.