Pollution Control Board authorities told in Chennai late last night that the crackers burst by Chennaiites had increased the noise and smoke pollution levels by 150 times.

100 micron per cubic metre is the ‘admissible’ air pollution level; however, thanks to intense cracker-bursting by Chennaiites, the level increased to 2.5 microns.  The Board further said that this was the prevailing situation as a result of the survey conducted at 04:00 p.m.

The increased smoke pollution made it tough for people to breathe fresh air.  Vehicle-users bore the brunt of the smoke which had engulfed the city right from early morning.

The non-stop bursting of crackers also resulted in smoke disrupting usual flow of traffic in Mylapore, Guindy, Triplicane and Kodambakkam and in many other places such as Tambaram and Chromepet in the city.