Delhi residents flout Supreme Court firecracker restrictions during Diwali
Fireworks continued in several neighbourhoods until 3am despite a two-hour window and the deployment of special enforcement teams.
Firecrackers were burst across Delhi well past the permitted deadline on Diwali, according to a report by the Hindustan Times. Although the Supreme Court had set a narrow two-hour window for using certified green crackers, residents reported explosions continuing until 2am or 3am in several areas.
The Supreme Court had permitted the use of green crackers between 6am and 7am and 8pm and 10pm on November 7 and 8, with a complete ban to be restored from November 9. Residents' welfare associations (RWAs) reported that fireworks were burst both before and long after these hours.
BS Vohra, president of the East Delhi RWA Federation, said firecracker bursting was full-fledged until 11pm and could be heard until 2am or 3am. He noted that while police were on the ground, they were not stopping people from flouting the rules.
Arvind Kaila, president of the Kailash Colony RWA, described the situation as a "systematic failure" by both the police and the Delhi government. In south Delhi's CR Park, RWA president Sangita Thukral said she sent reminders to residents at 10.40pm and 3am, but hardly any heed was paid.
Senior police officers claimed a strict crackdown was carried out, with more than 350 first information reports (FIRs) registered. DCP (west) Hareshwar V Swami said 62 FIRs were registered in his district, while DCP (northwest) Akanksha Yadav said 38 cases had been registered.