Bhumi Pednekar flags hazardous AQI, fires and cracker waste in Mumbai after Diwali

Actor Bhumi Pednekar has raised concerns about worsening air quality, fire incidents, road waste, late-night noise and the effect of firecrackers on animals following Diwali celebrations. Her appeal came as the Mumbai banned rockets and other aerial firecrackers until November 25 after Mumbai recorded 142 fires on November 8, including 137 linked to firecrackers.Delhi also woke to high pollution levels on Monday, November 9, after firecrackers were burst through the night. Real-time data from AQI.in showed that the city’s Air Quality Index stood at 663 at 8.01 am after peaking at 1,331 at 1.31 am. The readings are separate from the official AQI figures published by the Central Pollution Control Board.In an Instagram Story, Bhumi described the aftermath of the celebrations and tagged the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and Mumbai Police.“Houses have caught fire, the AQI is hazardous, roads are full of waste, it’s 3 am and all I can hear are loud crackers. Our roads were full of people bursting crackers on them, out in the open, even when it’s not allowed. This is heartbreaking. @mybmc @mumbaipolice (sic),” she wrote. On Monday morning, the actor shared another post about the environmental and health effects of firecrackers. It urged people to celebrate Diwali responsibly and consider the impact of the festivities on vulnerable groups and animals. “Diwali is a festival of light, love, family and new beginnings. But every year, along with the celebrations, comes a familiar aftermath: polluted air, firecracker waste, noise and frightened animals. Firecrackers release fine particulate matter and other pollutants that add to an already challenging air-quality situation. And the impact isn’t experienced equally. Children, older people, those with respiratory conditions and animals are particularly vulnerable. This year, let’s make a choice that allows everyone, including the ones who cannot speak for themselves, to enjoy the festival,” the post said.Celebrities speak outFilmmaker Vivek Agnihotri also raised concerns after an errant rocket struck a sofa on his balcony and caused a fire. In a post addressed to the mayor, he said his dogs alerted the family in time, while the sofa’s fire-resistant fabric helped prevent a potentially serious accident.Agnihotri called for strict enforcement of safety rules and accountability from authorities responsible for public awareness, implementing court orders and preventing violations. He also urged the administration to investigate the fires and fix responsibility wherever negligence or enforcement failures were established.Delhi records overnight surge in pollutionDelhi’s AQI.in reading of 663 on Monday morning was nearly 69 per cent higher than the reading of 393 recorded on October 21, 2025, the day after Diwali that year. A layer of smog was also seen over the city’s Inderlok area.Pollution rose sharply late on Sunday. The AQI.in reading stood at 681 at 9.31 pm before climbing to 1,153 by 11 pm and reaching 1,331 at 1.31 am. The level eased during the early morning but remained at 663.The increase followed several days of poor air quality. On November 8, the official CPCB 24-hour AQI was 376, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. The official forecast had warned that air quality could turn ‘severe’ on November 9.Delhi’s AQI.in reading had risen from 124 on October 30 to 393 on November 2, before reaching 464 at 11.31 am on November 3. An improvement following rain and strong winds in late October faded as dry conditions returned and pollution from vehicles, industries, construction, road dust and waste burning accumulated.Firecrackers added smoke and fine particles to the air, while weak winds and unfavourable weather made it harder for pollutants to disperse. Smoke from crop-residue burning in neighbouring states could also add to the pollution burden at this time of year.The Commission for Air Quality Management had enforced Stage III restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan across Delhi-NCR on November 6 as pollution worsened before the festival.Mumbai bans aerial firecrackersThe Mumbai Disaster Management Authority’s prohibition covers public and private spaces, including residential buildings, terraces, balconies, parking lots and slum areas.The order was issued under the Disaster Management Act by Additional Municipal Commissioner Prajakta Lavangare-Verma in her capacity as chairperson-in-charge of the Urban Disaster Management Authority, Brihanmumbai. It took immediate effect on November 9 and will remain in force until 11.59 pm on November 25.Two women were injured in the 142 fire incidents reported in Mumbai on November 8. The number of firecracker-related incidents was higher than in previous years. During Diwali in 2024, Mumbai reported 262 fires, including 80 caused by firecrackers, and three people were injured. In 2025, the city recorded 289 fires, of which 113 were attributed to firecrackers. No deaths or injuries were reported that year.The disaster management authority said rockets and similar aerial firecrackers could land on rooftops, balconies, windows and other combustible materials, causing fires. Densely populated neighbourhoods, high-rise buildings, slum clusters, narrow roads and closely packed residential and commercial structures further increased the risk to lives and property, it said.- Ends