With the AQI in the city touching a maximum of 500 on two consecutive days of Diwali celebrations - the highest level recorded across mutiple cities in the state - the smoky haze left in the wake of incessant cracker burning is set to leave its impact on those battling with asthma and chronic respiratory disorders.

Doctors said a rise in COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and asthma along with other respiratory disorders is anticipated in the wake of Diwali pollution.

The Civil Hospital has had a daily OPD patients of 80 to 100 in the tuberculosis department with 2,300 to 2,400 patients being reported per month. While many TB patients also report respiratory problems, the number of these cases is expected to rise post-Diwali.

District TB Officer, Dr Ritu Dadra, said, "Every ye

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