Diwali, the festival of lights, wasn't fully brighter in Chennai as it has some dark sides from disturbing events in the city to deteriorating air quality. Though the city was half-deserted after millions left to their hometowns across the state, the police had a tough time to enforce the guidelines. Hundreds of cases were filed in the city against the violators who defied the regulations and went on to burst crackers beyond the stipulated time. 

In a statement, the Greater Chennai Police said that 581 cases were registered over the Diwali weekend - between Saturday (November 11) and the morning hours of Monday - November 13. These cases were on the grounds of not adhering to the state and the Supreme Court's rules for celebrations involving firecrackers. As per the guidelines, firecrackers were only allowed to be burst between 6 am and 7 am and 7 pm to 8 pm over the Diwali weekend. 

Of these 581 cases, 554 cases were registered for bursting firecrackers beyond the time specified in the guidelines of the Supreme Court. In a statement, the Chennai police further said that while eight cases were filed for running firecracker shops which violated the Tamil Nadu Government rules, 19 cases were registered against people who burst firecrackers that caused more noise. 

As per the direction for tight surveillance from Chennai Police Commissioner Sandeep Rai Rathore, about 18,000 police personnel were stationed across the city to patrol and surveil the Diwali celebrations. Besides filed cases, the police had also imposed penalties against people for violating the guidelines. It is to be noted that for this year's Diwali, the Supreme Court has given permission only for green crackers, owing to their character of limited noise polluting and they are also regarded as low emission crackers. 

'Very poor' air quality 

In the wake of Diwali celebrations and rampant bursting of crackers, the air quality in Chennai has reported a downfall. The air quality has plunged following Diwali celebrations on the night of Sunday. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality in several parts of Tamil Nadu's capital deteriorated to poor and very poor categories as of 9 am on Monday. 

It has been reported that the people living in South Chennai such as Velachery and North Chennai's Manali had recorded air quality index levels of 322 and 329 respectively and had fallen under the category of 'very poor' air quality. As per the CPCB protocol, the 'poor' air quality index causes breathing difficulty to most people who have prolonged exposure. 

However, the 'very poor' air quality index causes respiratory illness on prolonged exposure. As of 4 pm on Sunday during the Diwali day, only nine cities in India have recorded good air quality index while close to 50 cities reported to have poor and very poor categories.