Bengaluru: Firecrackers may be burst only between 8 pm and 10 pm this Deepavali, in line with a Supreme Court order, the Karnataka police said on Monday as they issued 19-point guidelines for the festival.
The guidelines focus on pollution control, preventing fire accidents and public safety. Legal action will be taken against those who break the time rule, the police said.
Where firecrackers are not allowed
Bursting firecrackers is completely banned around hospitals, petrol pumps, gas stations, religious places, old-age homes and childcare centres. People should also avoid crowded areas, roads and spots near parked vehicles, and use open grounds and less crowded places instead.
What to buy
Quality green crackers should be bought only from licensed shops, and scanning the QR code on the packet to confirm that the product is genuine is mandatory, the police said. Crackers that cause excessive noise and air pollution are banned.
Any illegal sale should be reported immediately to the nearest police station or on the 112 emergency helpline.
Safety while bursting crackers
The guidelines advise people to:
- wear protective goggles and gloves, and cotton clothes rather than nylon, synthetic or polyester;
- never hold a cracker in the hand while lighting it, and take care to protect the face, eyes and ears;
- keep water, sand, fire-fighting equipment and a first-aid kit ready at the spot;
- make sure small children do not burst crackers without adult supervision;
- prefer low-noise green crackers in consideration of senior citizens, patients and students;
- take care that animals are not disturbed or harmed;
- collect burnt remains in a bucket and put them out fully with sand or water, and keep playgrounds, roads and public spaces clean.
Emergency numbers
In case of a fire or any other emergency, people should immediately call 112 for police and fire services or 108 for an ambulance and seek medical help, the police said.
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