New Delhi: A thick haze engulfed Delhi on Thursday as it recorded its worst air quality of the year the morning after Diwali, with the pollution level entering “severe-plus emergency” category or ten times the permissable limit due to rampant bursting of toxic firecrackers in gross violation of a Supreme Court order, authorities said.
While many residents and green activists voiced their helplessness at the violation of the Supreme Court’s 8 PM to 10 pm time limit of bursting firecrackers and expressed anguish, doctors advised people to stay indoors, use N-99 masks and not venture out.
The Delhi police said it had registered over 550 cases and arrested over 300 people for violating apex court’s order in this regard, while asserting that on Diwali day, it also seized 2,776 kgs of firecrackers, arrested 87 people and registered 72 cases in connection with illegal sale of firecrackers.
Delhi Fire Services (DFS) responded to over 300 calls on fire incidents triggered by firecrackers and LPG cylinder blast, among others, on Diwali night in Delhi, including an incident in which two children lost their lives and two others were injured. This, they said was much higher than previous years. Over 250 cases of burn injuries were reported by various hospitals in the national capital this Diwali.
The Supreme Court has allowed people to burst firecrackers from 8 pm to 10 pm only on Diwali and other festivals. The top court also allowed manufacture and sale of just “green crackers” which have low emission of light, sound and harmful chemicals.
The court said the police should ensure there was no sale of banned firecrackers and in case of any violation, the Station House Officer (SHO) of the police station of the area would be held personally liable and this would amount to committing contempt of court.
