Ahmedabad: The air above Sabarmati Riverfront hung heavy with smoke and the smell of burnt powder. The venue, with its open grounds and the river as backdrop, became one of the favourite spots for people to set off firecrackers, but not without causing heavy air and noise pollution. From Sunday night to early Monday morning, the AQI here shot beyond the safe levels. Police had to remove revellers from the grounds after smoke clouded the area and incessant noise from the crackers became unbearable.A senior official from Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Ltd (SRFDCL) said the riverfront has become a cracker-bursting hot spot over the past couple of years.“We had requested city police beforehand to ensure that public property is not damaged. On Monday, we started cleaning the premises. The lower promenade isn’t much affected by crackers,” the official said.IT engineering student and Satellite resident Kuntal Patel had plans to show his sister, visiting from the US, the sunrise at the riverfront. “We reached the spot on early Monday morning and turned back immediately. Breathing was difficult; it felt like we were inhaling smoke,” he said.According to AQI.com, the air quality ranged from severe to hazardous on Diwali night, especially in the city’s west.
