Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 14 hrs ago
Hyderabad air pollution remains hazardous after Deepavali fireworks
After Deepavali fireworks continued late into the night in Hyderabad, India, the city woke to a grey, smoggy morning on November 9.
Firecrackers were set off in several central neighbourhoods, and the city’s average AQI reached 509 at 9:30 p.m.
AQI measures air pollution, while PM2.5 refers to tiny particles that can be breathed into the lungs.
Ravi Colony near Masjid Banda recorded an AQI of 995, and the air remained hazardous at 178 by morning.
Some pollution monitors operated by Telangana’s Pollution Control Board were offline as pollution rose, so the figures came from publicly available monitors.
The poor air quality left people reporting burning eyes and discomfort while breathing, and firecracker remains littered roads.
The available figures show pollution easing overnight but still hazardous in the morning; no further action or forecast is stated.
Hyderabad’s air quality reached hazardous levels after Deepavali fireworks continued into the early hours of November 9.
At 9.30 p.m., PM2.5 reached 392 micrograms per cubic meter and the city’s average Air Quality Index was 509.
Ravi Colony near Masjid Banda recorded an AQI of 995 as fireworks continued.
By morning, the city’s AQI was 178, while PM10 reached 113 micrograms per cubic meter.
Telangana Pollution Control Board monitoring stations were out of order as pollution rose.
- Who
- Hyderabad residents experienced deteriorating air quality after Deepavali celebrations.
- What
- Fireworks were followed by hazardous air pollution and smog.
- When
- The pollution peaked at 9.30 p.m. on November 8, 2026, and remained hazardous the next morning.
- Where
- Hyderabad, including Ravi Colony near Masjid Banda and several central localities.
- Why
- Fireworks during Deepavali celebrations increased particulate pollution.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
PM2.5 reached 392 micrograms per cubic meter and Hyderabad’s average AQI was 509.
The city’s average AQI was 442, while Serilingampally recorded 666.
Hyderabad’s AQI was 178 and PM10 reached 113 micrograms per cubic meter.
- City
- Hyderabad
- PM2.5 peak
- 392 micrograms per cubic meter at 9.30 p.m.
- City AQI
- 509 at 9.30 p.m.
- Local AQI peak
- 995 in Ravi Colony near Masjid Banda
- Morning AQI
- 178
- Monitoring stations
- Telangana Pollution Control Board monitors were out of order
What people are saying
For the first time in Hyderabad, I’m experiencing air pollution this bad. My eyes are burning, the air is thick with the stench of burnt chemicals and gunpowder, and breathing itself feels uncomfortable.