Diwali noise in Guwahati: Panbazar silent zone hits 81.7 dB

Noise levels in Guwahati's Panbazar area, which is classified as a silent zone, climbed to 81.7 decibels (dB) on Diwali, well above the limits set for such areas, according to Assam Pollution Control Board (APCB) data reported by The Times of India.

What the readings show

Panbazar recorded 81.7 dB on Sunday, the day of Diwali, against 56.2 dB a day earlier. On Monday the level dropped to 74.4 dB, but it was still far above the usual 40-50 dB standard for silent zones, APCB executive environmental scientist Ranjana Singha said.

The Diwali reading in Panbazar was 4.2 dB higher than two years ago, even though last year had shown signs of improvement.

Other parts of the city showed a mixed picture:

• Ganeshguri (commercial area): 68.4 dB this Diwali, down 3.8 dB from 72.2 dB in 2024.
• Rehabari (residential area): 74.3 dB on Diwali, up from 59.5 dB the day before, and nearly unchanged at 74.1 dB the following day.

"Residential areas also witnessed elevated readings," Singha said.

What the limits are

Under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, silence zones, which cover areas around hospitals, schools, courts and similar institutions, have a daytime limit of 50 dB and a night-time limit of 40 dB. Residential areas are allowed 55 dB by day and 45 dB at night, and commercial areas 65 dB by day and 55 dB at night. Decibels are measured on a logarithmic scale, so a reading of about 80 dB is many times louder than the 50 dB permitted.

Fewer crackers sold, sellers say

Firecracker sellers in the city said sales were slightly lower this year, which they put down to higher prices. A Fancy Bazar vendor said many customers bought fewer crackers or picked cheaper ones.

Sellers also said there was little demand for green crackers, which they had stocked in line with Supreme Court directions, leaving much of their stock unsold.

Why it matters

Loud bursts of noise can disturb patients, the elderly, children and animals, and long exposure can harm hearing. Panbazar, in the heart of old Guwahati, is home to several institutions that the silent-zone rules are meant to protect. Earlier this week a greater adjutant stork, known locally as Hargila, was found dead on a power line in the city amid Diwali firecrackers.

The APCB data suggests that while some commercial areas were quieter this year, enforcement of silent zones in the city remains weak during festivals.