As many in Delhi disregarded the municipal government’s prohibition on them, a lot of loud firecrackers exploded throughout Diwali night on Monday.
Gopal Rai, the minister of the environment for Delhi, announced last week that setting off fireworks during Diwali in the city will result in a maximum six-month jail sentence and a fine of Rs 200.
Despite the official prohibition in effect, people began setting off fireworks by sundown in various areas of the city, including south and northwest Delhi. On the ground or in the air, loud firecrackers could be heard exploding.
And as the night went on, the volume of firecrackers escalated to levels that exceeded legal decibel restrictions, leading some people to ask “whether there was any prohibition at all.”
Diwali firecracker-bursting is a long-standing custom, but authorities in Delhi claimed the decision to limit it was made after taking into account the environmental issues and health risks involved.