Dhanbad’s AQI soars to 714 on Diwali night, noise level cross 100 decibels

Diwali celebrations on November 8 caused a sharp deterioration in air and noise pollution levels across Dhanbad, with the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching an alarming 714 late at night.

Noise pollution also increased significantly, with maximum sound levels crossing 100 decibels at three major locations. According to real-time data available on aqi.in, Dhanbad’s AQI stood at around 170 at 4.31 pm. However, air quality deteriorated rapidly as firecracker bursting intensified after sunset. By 9.30 pm, the AQI had climbed to 456 before reaching its maximum level of 714 at 11.31 pm. The index subsequently started declining during the early morning hours. The steep increase highlights the impact of firecracker bursting on the city’s already polluted atmosphere. Firecrackers release fine particulate matter and harmful gases, including sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide, which can aggravate respiratory problems. The Pollution Control Department had permitted firecracker bursting only between 8 pm and 10 pm. However, the restriction was widely disregarded, with crackers continuing to burst well beyond the prescribed hours. Meanwhile, noise pollution data released by the Dhanbad regional office of the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board revealed a substantial increase compared with November 1, the pre-Diwali monitoring day. Bank More recorded the highest maximum noise level of 104.5 decibels between 9 pm and 10 pm.

Its equivalent continuous noise level reached  102.4 decibels. compared with 77.3 decibels during the corresponding period on November 1, an increase of 25.1 decibels. At Hirapur, the maximum noise level reached 103.5 decibels, while the Leq increased from 73.8 to 100.2 decibels. Bartand recorded a maximum of 101. decibels, with its Leq rising from 70.6 to 96.2 decibels. Significantly, noise levels remained exceptionally high even after the permitted firecracker-bursting period ended. Between 10 pm and 11 pm, Bank More recorded an Leq of 100.8 decibels Hirapur 98.3 decibels and Bartand 95.4 decibels. Even between 11 pm and midnight, the equivalent noise levels stood at 87.7 decibels at Bank More, 82.3 decibels at Hirapur and 80.5 decibels at Bartand

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