Air high quality deteriorates in Kolkata, Howrah on Kali Puja night time as a consequence of firecracker bursting

Kolkata’s and Howrah’s air high quality deteriorated sharply on Kali Puja night time as firecrackers have been burst past the permissible hours of 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., flouting pointers issued by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) and police, environmentalists mentioned on Tuesday (October 21, 2025).

A WBPCB official mentioned whereas the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 186 at Victoria Memorial within the metropolis, it touched 364 at Belur in Howrah at 10 p.m. on Monday (October 20, 2025).

An AQI between 151 and 200 is taken into account ‘poor’, 201 to 300 ‘very poor’, and above 300 is assessed as ‘extreme’.

At Padmapukur, the AQI learn 361, whereas it breached the 252 mark at Ghusuri, each in Howrah district.

In Kolkata’s Ballygunge, the AQI touched 173, whereas at Jadavpur it was 169 at 10 p.m., the PCB official mentioned.

At Rabindra Bharati University within the Sinthi space within the northern a part of town, the AQI touched 167.

At 8 p.m. on Monday (October 20, 2025), the AQI was 164 at Victoria, 159 (Jadavpur), 117 (Fort William), 161 (Belur Math), 102 (Rabindra Bharati University) and 134 at Ballygunge.

Affirming the spurt, the official mentioned they have been analysing the outcomes.

Environmentalist Somendra Mohan Ghosh mentioned there was rampant and frequent use of sound-emitting firecrackers in north and south Kolkata and Howrah since night.

“From Kashipur, Sinthi, Jorasanko, Maniktala to Kasba, Tollygunge, Regent Park, Behala and Jadavpur, high-decibel firecrackers were burst everywhere. Both police and WBPCB remained mere spectators and failed to curb the sale and use of firecrackers,” Mr. Ghosh alleged.

Mr. Ghosh mentioned the scenario in Howrah is worse, and authorities ought to brace for additional worsening of the scenario through the post-Kali Puja celebrations on Tuesday (October 21, 2025).

Naba Dutta of Sabuj Manch, an organisation of environmentalists, additionally blamed police and the air pollution watchdog for having “failed” to implement laws, leaving aged residents, ailing individuals, youngsters and pets uncovered to sound and air air pollution.