Despite customary bursting of firecrackers, Himachal Pradesh recorded largely “satisfactory” to “moderate” air quality this Diwali. Although a visible spike in Air Quality Index (AQI) at all 12 towns/locations was observed on the Diwali day (October 20) compared to the penultimate day before the festival, the overall air quality remained better than the 2024 Diwali, according to the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB).

Noise pollution levels, however, rose sharply in several towns. The permissible noise limits are 50 decibels (dB) for silence zones, 55 dB for residential areas, 65 dB for commercial zones and 75 dB for industrial areas. In towns such as Chamba, Una, Baddi, Rampur Bushahr, and Kullu, the noise level exceeded the permissible limits on Diwali night, indica

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