Firecrackers burst past 10 pm deadline in Mumbai despite police presence, Awaaz Foundation says

Several accidental fire incidents linked to firecrackers were recorded in Mumbai on Sunday night. Awaaz Foundation carried out its annual monitoring of noise levels and air quality across the city during this time.

According to the foundation, firecracker activity peaked between 8 pm and 11.15 pm on Sunday, the day of Lakshmi Puja. Its members monitored areas including Carter Road in Bandra, Mahim, Dadar, Shivaji Park, Prabhadevi, Worli, Haji Ali, Marine Drive, Cuffe Parade and Colaba.

The foundation said fewer firecrackers were burst this year at places that were earlier full of them, such as Marine Drive and Shivaji Park. Most of the fireworks were sporadic and scattered across different neighbourhoods. The figures were lower than in 2023, when noise at Marine Drive was recorded at 82 to 117 decibels between 9 pm and 11.25 pm. That year Shivaji Park recorded 99 decibels at 7.45 pm and 95 decibels at 11.45 pm, while Carter Road recorded 72 to 85 decibels at 7 pm.

Foundation members said firecrackers were still being burst at Cuffe Parade and Carter Road at around 11.15 pm despite police presence. Reports of firecrackers after the 10 pm deadline came from other neighbourhoods too. In some places the police intervened. Pointing to these violations, the foundation has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the BMC commissioner and demanded strict action.

Foundation head Sumaira Abdulali wrote: "We received a large number of complaints from the western and eastern suburbs that a lot of firecrackers were burst, especially between 10 pm and 6 am. Under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, the night-time limit in residential areas is 45 decibels and firecrackers cannot be burst during this period."

Abdulali said most of the firecrackers seen in this year's celebrations were light-emitting ones, such as sparklers, flowerpots and ground spinners. However, she also said that all the firecrackers observed produced visible smoke.

Awaaz Foundation had also had 17 types of firecrackers chemically tested. It is alleged that some samples contained undeclared traces of barium, aluminium and sulphur. Three firecrackers carried no declaration of contents. All 17 passed the noise test, but some recorded readings above 90 decibels (A). In a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dated 7 November, founder Sumaira Abdulali asked the government to allow only those firecrackers to be sold that comply with environmental rules and Bombay High Court orders.