Jaipur: The alarming rise in air pollution in Delhi and NCR ahead of Diwali has flooded Jaipur with visitors. Even after the Supreme Court ban on firecrackers, the families from Delhi and neighbouring places are rushing to Jaipur and nearby prominent tourist places to celebrate Diwali in a pollution free environment.

Holding the dark memories of the Great Smog of Delhi-2016 which saw a thick layer of smog over skies lasted for a week after Diwali, the families are taking no chance to stay in the gas chamber.

‘Nirmal Singh Shekhawat, a lawyer with the Taj Group lives in Kingsway Camp in Delhi arrived in his native village in Jaipur to celebrate Diwali after a gap of a decade. “I am working in Delhi from the past 15 years and have started celebrating all festivals from the past one decade due to my extended social circle here. Last year’s horrific experience has left with no chance to even think of living in Delhi during Diwali,” said Shekhawat.

The employees of international agencies and embassies headquartered in Delhi are also heading to the desert state to spend pollution-free days. A group from an international child rights group landed in Jaipur on Wednesday for obvious reasons. “The PM level remains high throughout the year in Delhi. Our seniors always carry a portable air cleaner in the car while they travel in Delhi. Staying during the time when PM touches 100 times higher is out of the question,” said a South Korean national working as a junior health and nutrition officer in the agency.

Piyush Sharma, a sales manager at Sarovar Group of Hotels, says that bookings are very encouraging by domestic clients. “Most of the bookings are for families coming with kids and elderlies. This is a new season for the hospitality industry,” said elated Sharma. Another indicator which confirms the beginning of a new trend is Rajasthan State Roadways Transport Corporation luxury buses running at full capacity from the Bikaner house in Delhi.

“During Diwali, the trend has been that bookings shot up due to the natives visiting families but the phenomenal rise is due to rise in visitors count. To meet the additional demand we have not only run extra busses but increased the frequency of existing fleet of luxury buses. The additional rise in bookings to continue till they passengers return,” said Sudhir Bhati, public relations officer of RSRTC.

The travel agents have experienced a beginning of a new trend of selling tourist packages during Diwali. Plans are that from the next year they (agents) to hire a fort turn resorts for celebrating Diwali with traditional style. The movement of visitors is not restricted in Jaipur. Reports are that due to four-day holiday the visitors are spreading Udaipur, Jodhpur and Pushkar. Heading to mountains has been a trend for Delhiites during Diwali but due to its limited capacity, it becomes expensive and overcrowded. Rajasthan due to its direct connectivity via rail, road and air along with the wide reach of diverse places and hotels are being preferred.