Figures revealed by the regional office of the pollution control board shows that on Diwali night, the PM10 count of Noida was 820 as compared to 361.7 in 2015 and 365.6 in 2014. The PM10 count in Noida a week ahead of Diwali this year was only 169. "Conditions are worrisome. This is the worst air quality Noida has witnessed in last many years. However, we do feel, this is a cumulative effect of many things. There has also been a sudden change in weather which has prevented the polluted air to escape, which has now reinforced the pollution. The toxicity of the air is high," BB Awasthi, regional director, UPPCB told TOI.

"Every year, we record the pollution levels of the city a week ahead of Diwali and then on Diwali night. If you compare the pre Diwali pollution levels of Noida, there will be a marginal rise in general pollution levels of the city. But the startling increase on Diwali night pollution shows how unhealthy the air quality has been on the festival night. It was seven times more than the normal count this year," Deepa Arora, Assistant, Scientific Officer at UPPCB, Noida explained.

Apart from being one of the most toxic Diwali nights ever, it has also been one of noisiest ones in the recent years. "The noise levels on Diwali night in 2014 was 68 decibels, in 2015 it was at 76 decibels and this year it was at 77 decibels," Arora informed. "We cannot do anything beyond measuring the air quality. It will take a while for the air to get healthy and fresh. All agents responsible for containing air pollution in the city should take strict action in future to prevent such an environmental and health hazard," Awasthi added.