Buxar recorded severe air pollution as the AQI crossed 400 on Monday morning after Diwali. Extensive firecracker bursting caused this spike, raising health concerns for many residents. Dr Shailesh Kumar Srivastava said, "Firecrackers emit fine particulate matter such as PM2.5 and PM10, which can penetrate deep into the respiratory system."
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Buxar: Air quality in Buxar entered the ‘severe’ category a day after Diwali, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossing 400 on Monday morning due to a spike in air pollution attributed to extensive firecracker bursting. The deterioration in air quality has raised health concerns, particularly for children, the elderly and people suffering from respiratory ailments. According to air quality data, Buxar recorded an AQI of over 400, with some monitoring platforms reporting a reading as high as 441. Extensive firecracker released large quantities of smoke, dust and harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, raising health concern. Chest specialist Dr Shailesh Kumar Srivastava said firecrackers emit fine particulate matter such as PM2.5 and PM10, which can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and cause breathing difficulties. Harmful gases, including sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, released during the burning of crackers further worsen air pollution and affect lung health. He warned that prolonged exposure to polluted air could aggravate respiratory illnesses, particularly among people suffering from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other lung-related ailments. Children and senior citizens are especially vulnerable to the adverse effects of poor air quality. An AQI above 400 falls in the severe category and can pose serious health risks even to healthy individuals, while those with pre-existing respiratory or cardiac conditions may face more severe complications. The pollution spike was reported across several Bihar cities. Bettiah recorded an AQI of 364, followed by Motihari (357), Sasaram (326), Siwan (326), Muzaffarpur (325), Darbhanga (300) and Patna (248). Environmental expert Raj Kumar Jha expressed concern over rising firecracker-related pollution and urged parents to discourage children from bursting crackers. He also advised people to minimise outdoor exposure, particularly during the morning hours when pollution levels remain high. Jha said public participation was crucial in tackling air pollution, adding that administrative measures alone would not be sufficient unless people adopted environment-friendly practices during festivals and other celebrations.