Firecracker Frenzy: Deepavali Celebrations Spark Urgent Calls for Reform

In the aftermath of Deepavali 2025, Mumbai-based advocate Hitendra Gandhi has called for urgent intervention from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to address the recurring harms caused by indiscriminate firecracker bursting during festivals, particularly Deepavali.

The appeal, submitted to the NHRC, draws on extensive data showing post-festival spikes in air pollution, with PM2.5 levels reaching up to 700 µg/m³, nearly 12 times the permissible limit. Cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru reported "very poor" to "severe" AQI levels within hours of Deepavali night, accompanied by surges in hospital admissions for respiratory ailments.

The representation also highlights the growing menace of illegal carbide-based firecrackers. In Bhopal, more than 60 people, mostly children, were hospitalized this Deepavali due to explosions caused by these "carbide guns," which are outside any certified manufacturing or safety standard. Bengaluru recorded over 75 firecracker-related injuries, overwhelming local burn units.

Animal welfare groups have reported hundreds of injuries to pets and strays, while urban trees and waterbodies suffer from chemical residue and litter. The appeal calls for the establishment of emergency animal rescue networks, post-celebration cleanup operations, and public awareness campaigns to promote compassion toward animals during festivals.

The representation argues that the yearly accumulation of pollutants imposes an environmental debt on future generations, framing the issue as one of intergenerational justice. It urges the NHRC to commission a national study, issue public advisories, and recommend preventive regulatory action against the manufacture and use of unsafe carbide fireworks while preserving Diwali's cultural and religious sanctity.