Bhubaneswar: The air quality dropped considerably in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack after Diwali celebrations with the residents of the twin cities encountering thick smog caused by pollution on Saturday morning.
Amid poor air quality, visibility on the highway and city roads dropped in the state capital as well as the millennium city.
Though the intense spell of rain had brought the degraded air quality under control on Friday, after the first day of the Diwali celebration, the condition again deteriorated in Bhubaneswar after bursting of crackers on the second day of festivities.
Residents of the two cities were found defying restrictions imposed by the authorities and burst firecrackers till late in the night on Friday.
As a result, the air quality index in Bhubaneswar on Saturday morning stood at 135, which is considered ‘unhealthy’ and can cause serious health hazards among sensitive groups.
Similarly, Cuttack city stood in the ‘unhealthy’ category with AQI 138 in the morning.
Despite strict guidelines limiting firecrackers to bursting until 9 pm, residents here were seen celebrating with fireworks until late at night, adding to the thick smog that covered the cities.