Air quality in Hyderabad worsened beyond the dangerous threshold on Monday night (October 20, 2025) as firecrackers burst across the city around 7:00 pm. The air quality index (AQI), measured in PM 2.5 microns, deteriorated from moderate to unhealthy levels within an hour as stiff easterly winds blew in smoke and particles.
A sulphurous stench wafted over Sanathnagar, Ameerpet, Attapur, Kukatpally, Jubilee Hills and surrounding areas as loud explosions and trails of arcing fireworks lit up the night sky. At 9 pm, air quality monitors showed alarming readings, with Kukatpally recording PM 2.5 at 945 – far above the dangerous threshold of 301. Somajiguda registered 467, Secunderabad 362 and Vittal Rao Nagar 511, while most sensors across the city did not blink above 250. Even the University of Hyderabad, which is on the outskirts city, reported 661 at 9 p.m
By 10 pm, a sensor in Kukatpally recorded PM 2.5 at 1133 µg/m3, almost four times the dangerous levels in India. At the same time, sensors in most parts of central Hyderabad measured particulate pollution above 300 points. Particulate pollution is considered extremely dangerous due to the small size of the particles, which can be easily inhaled and then absorbed by the body.
The online monitors of the Telangana State Pollution Control Board were switched off on Sunday evening. When the sensors started functioning on Monday evening, the Sanathnagar sensor showed 252 at 8 pm, peaked at 500 by 10 pm and remained at that level till midnight. By the way, the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s scale for measuring PM2.5 tops out at 500. At 1:00 a.m., it dropped slightly to 442 and continued to remain a dangerous 315 even at 2:00 a.m., long after the cracker had stopped popping. By 3:00 a.m., air quality has improved significantly but still remains in the poor category.
Published – 21 Oct 2025 12:27 IST
