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Gurugram Residents Defy Diwali Cracker Ban, Choke City with Toxic Smog
21 Oct
Summary
- Residents across Gurugram burst crackers past 10 pm, ignoring Supreme Court restrictions
- Air quality index plunged to 'severe' category, with PM2.5 levels multiple times above safe limit
- Residents complained of suffocating air and breathing problems, with some requiring nebulizer use
In the days leading up to Diwali last year, the residents of Gurugram, a city near New Delhi, blatantly disregarded the Supreme Court's restrictions on the bursting of firecrackers. Despite police patrols and announcements, people across various neighborhoods continued to light up the sky with crackers well past the 10 pm deadline.
By 2 am, the city was shrouded in a thick, suffocating smog, with the air quality index (AQI) plunging into the 'severe' category at 371. Residents complained of burning eyes and breathing problems, with some even requiring the use of nebulizers. Environmental groups expressed outrage at the "toxic haze" that had enveloped the city, calling it a "grim reminder of our collective failure to prioritize clean air."
Authorities acknowledged the need for stronger enforcement, with the Gurugram Deputy Commissioner stating that while there was a more limited sale of crackers compared to previous years, the overall scale of bursting still needed to be curbed. Residents, however, admitted to celebrating Diwali with fireworks, despite knowing the risks, as they felt the festival would be incomplete without them.
