‘A Diwali nightmare’: pollution crisis grips India after firework celebrations

Air quality experts say the surge in air pollution following the festival is leading to increased respiratory issues and hospital admissions

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A fireworks display is seen over the city skyline as part of the ‘Diwali’ festival celebrations in Mumbai on November 3. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:30pm, 6 Nov 2024

Kumar Mehta celebrated Diwali last week by lighting up the night skies with vibrant fireworks from his Mumbai flat. As his nine-year-old daughter watched the darkened skies come alive, a thick blanket of smoke soon engulfed the building’s play area.

Within moments, the child began struggling to breathe due to the billowing smoke and had to be rushed to a nearby hospital.

“It was a Diwali nightmare for us. We never thought it would happen to us,” Mehta said after spending two days at the hospital as his daughter received treatment for respiratory issues.

Such incidents have become increasingly common during Diwali, India’s largest festival, which this year fell on October 31. While over a billion people lit lamps, donned festive attire, hosted gatherings, and visited family, the widespread use of fireworks cast a shadow over the celebrations.

The aftermath grows more severe annually. Skies fill with particulate matter, and hazardous waste from fireworks clutters landfills and waterways, with little chance of recycling or proper disposal.

India’s capital New Delhi was wreathed in smog on November 1, with air pollution worsening after a fireworks ban was widely flouted for raucous celebrations of Diwali. Photo: AFP

In winter, northern India already grapples with chronic air pollution from stubble burning by farmers, waste incineration, construction dust, and industrial emissions. The addition of firecracker pollutants – even those labelled as “green”– can significantly worsen air quality.