Bhubaneswar, Oct 21: The capital city woke up to a dense layer of smog on Tuesday morning as early fog mingled with smoke from firecracker explosions during last night’s Diwali celebrations.

The resulting haze significantly reduced visibility across several parts of Bhubaneswar, raising concerns about air quality and public health.

According to reports, areas such as Rasulgarh, Chandrasekharpur, Jaydev Vihar, and Palasuni experienced dense smog. Despite advisories from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) to use green crackers and limit bursting hours, many ignored the guidelines, contributing to the spike in pollution levels.

Health experts have warned that the post-Diwali smog contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), which can aggravate respiratory and cardiac conditions.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially children and the elderly, to avoid outdoor activities during peak pollution hours.

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The city’s air quality is expected to remain poor for the next few days, with officials monitoring the situation closely.