Chennai: On Deepavali day, the city witnessed a much lesser increase in noise and air pollution this year as per data from the state pollution control board.
Triplicane recorded the highest increase in Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) levels from 75, in a pre-Deepavali survey conducted on October 24, to 177, found during the Deepavali survey on Saturday evening.
Nungambakkam, Sowcarpet, and Triplicane recorded the highest levels of RSPM over a 24-hour interval from 6 am on October 29. According to the report, there was no substantial increase in SO2 and NO2 across the city, and Besant Nagar remained the least polluted area in terms of suspended particulate matter and noise levels.
For air quality, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board took the surveys on the two days for a 24-hour interval while the noise levels were monitored in pre and post-Deepavali surveys from 6 pm to midnight. Permissible levels of RSPM are 100 micrograms per cubic metre.
As per norms, the permissible noise level in residential areas is 45 dB during night and 55 dB during the day. In commercial areas, it is 55 dB during nights and 65 dB during the day.
Over 800 fire incidents in 3 days
As many as 818 fire incidents related to bursting of crackers were reported from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon all over Tamil Nadu. In Chennai alone there were 221 incidents in those three days.
On deepavali Day (Saturday) there were 650 fire accidents, including 108 in Chennai district. Five people were admitted to hospitals, including a woman from Chitlapakkam near the city, with burns across Tamil Nadu on Saturday.
At Kurunji Nagar in Chromepet, a two-wheeler went up in flames after a ‘rocket’ fell on it on Saturday. “A kinetic Honda parked on the street went up in flame after a firework ‘rocket’ fell on it. Onlookers were forced to wait till the vehicle completely charred because of the fear of explosion,” police said.
Similarly, a firewood shop went up in flames in Ramapuram on Saturday night while 3 huts in Pallikaranai and 2 huts in Alandur were gutted after being hit by ‘rockets’. Of 650 mishaps, 379 fire accidents were caused by ‘rockets’ and 271 by other firecrackers. On Friday, 67 fire accidents were caused by rockets and 64 mishaps were triggered by other firecrackers.
In Chennai district there were 87 fires caused by rockets and 21 by other firecrackers. Similarly, on Friday in Chennai, there were 34 incidents of fire including two small fires due to rockets.
