Chennai: Marginal dip in pollution levels

CHENNAI: Compared to previous years, pollution levels on Bhogi have reduced in Chennai, which, officials claim, is due to a 7 percent fall in Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter on the Bhogi day as compared to 2016.

People in most houses woke up to a thick blanket of smoke but as the day passed by particulate matter saw a dip in the levels.

According to the Air Quality Index (AQI) website, the maximum levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) attained ‘severe’ levels of a maximum of 540 AQI between 8 am and noon on Friday. The level attained this year, however, is lesser when compared to last few years.

Bhogi smog hits city airport
At least 37 incoming and outgoing flights from Chennai airport were delayed due to poor visibility on smog-filled runways triggered by burning of Bhogi bonfires. A total of seven international and a domestic flights were diverted to airports in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi due to poor visibility in the city.

29 flights from chennai delayed due to smoke
As many as 29 flights, which were scheduled to take off from Chennai after 7 am onwards, were delayed for up to three hours, which created a ripple effect on fight schedules of outgoing and incoming flights.  

Flights coming from Sharjah, Muscat, Kuala Lumpur and Doha were diverted to Bengaluru while inbound flights from Colombo, Dubai, Singapore and Mumbai were diverted to Hyderabad. "All scheduled flights took off before 6.30 am. But the impact of smog, generated by burning old articles including plastic on Bhogi day, started only after that," airport sources said.

The Chennai ATC started clearing flights from Chennai at around 10.30 am and allowed the diverted flights to come back after 12 noon. "As many as 37 flights were delayed due to Bhogi smog till evening. As the outgoing flights were delayed, their return schedules were also affected," airport sources said.