Pune doctors and animal welfare workers urge a safe Diwali for eyes, pets and strays

Doctors and animal welfare workers in Pune are appealing to residents to celebrate Diwali responsibly. They say a few hours of fireworks can harm the environment, people and animals for a long time. Sparks and smoke can injure the eyes, sometimes permanently. Noise makes pets tremble, and stray animals bolt onto the roads.

Dr Satish Shitole, an eye specialist at Sassoon General Hospital, said eye problems are rising this season for three reasons. According to him, construction work and traffic already cause dust pollution in Pune, leading to irritation and dryness in the eyes. Second, people working in the IT sector in particular spend long hours in front of screens, which dries the eyes further. Third, eye allergies increase in winter, and firework smoke worsens the problem.

Dr Ritesh Kakrania, associate director of ophthalmology at a Pune hospital, said injuries can range from minor discomfort to serious damage. According to him, sparks, hot debris and fine particles from firecrackers can cause irritation, redness and watering of the eyes. In severe cases there can be corneal abrasions, chemical burns, cataract caused by injury and damage to the retina.

Dr Kakrania said the risk is not limited to those who light firecrackers. Bystanders watching from close by can also be hurt by a sudden blast or flying debris. He said children and the elderly need special care. Parents should ensure children do not handle firecrackers without an adult present, and elderly people who already have eye problems should stay away from heavily smoky places. He advised keeping a safe distance from fireworks and, where possible, watching professionally organised displays. He also said ordinary spectacles and sunglasses are no substitute for protective eyewear.

If an eye is injured, Dr Kakrania said, it should not be rubbed or pressed, and no attempt should be made to remove a particle lodged in it. Home remedies or eye drops should not be used without a doctor's advice. He said even an injury that looks minor should be shown to an eye specialist at once, because delay can affect vision.

For animals, Diwali is not a happy festival. Dogs have very sharp hearing and are frightened by sudden loud bangs. Pets often tremble, pant, hide under furniture, whimper and stop eating. Dr Milind Hatekar, a Pune veterinarian, said pets can take several days to return to their normal routine. According to him, owners should begin calming measures about a month before Diwali, including suitable homeopathic options. He said many medicines are also available. Constant noise outside also upsets feeding times, and many animals eat late at night once things quieten down. Dr Hatekar advised owners to give pets a familiar, safe place to hide and, if needed, to consider behavioural help and medication under a veterinarian's supervision.

Dr Pritesh Vidhate, who runs a pet clinic in Pimple Nilakh, said Diwali is especially hard on highly anxious pets. According to him, herbal options are available, and allopathic medicines can be considered for severe anxiety. He said some medicines can cause drowsiness but can help reduce the animal's distress. He suggested ear plugs where appropriate, toys and activities, and a familiar, comfortable space during the peak of the firecracker noise.

Stray animals have no safe place indoors to hide. Many dogs run onto the road or hide under parked vehicles, raising the risk of accidents. Geetanjali Taur, founder and president of Sahas Animal Shelter in Pune, has worked in animal welfare for five years. She said this impact often goes unnoticed. According to her, dogs have sharp hearing, firecracker noise affects them greatly and their ears can even be damaged. She said awareness is the key: using eco-friendly firecrackers, spreading awareness and checking for stray animals nearby before bursting crackers can reduce the impact.

Pet owners say it is hard to keep animals calm if firecrackers go on late into the night. Jyoti Uppal of Pune said her pets panic, cry and hide under the sofa. She said she makes a safe space with blankets and toys, shuts all doors and windows, and plays soft music to distract them, which seems to calm the animals somewhat. She tried to raise the issue in her housing society, but nothing happened. According to her, no one paid attention and people kept saying pets should be kept indoors.

Disha Goswami said her dog begins to get frightened a week before Diwali. He becomes restless and stops eating properly. She tries to feed him early and holds him in her lap while he sleeps. She said he is otherwise happy and lively but turns sad during Diwali. In her words, pet owners try their best to make things easier for their own animals and those around them, but those who burst firecrackers far outnumber those who care, and that is the saddest part.

The Pune Municipal Corporation's veterinary department has also appealed to citizens to protect animals during the festival. The corporation warned that loud noise can make dogs, cats and other animals panic and run, get injured and suffer severe stress. Dr Sarika Bhosale-Phunde, the department's chief veterinary officer, said sudden loud noise can disturb animals' sleeping and eating patterns and their natural behaviour, and that elderly, sick and young animals are especially vulnerable to such disturbance.

The corporation also cautioned against cruelty such as beating animals or tying firecrackers to their tails. Such acts are punishable under animal protection laws and the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). It asked people not to burst firecrackers near animals, to keep pets and strays away from noisy places and to show compassion during the festival.

Safety tips for people include not letting small children touch fireworks, keeping a safe distance from them and wearing protective glasses to guard the eyes. A firecracker that has not gone off or has only partly burned should not be relit. People should avoid bending over a firecracker to look at it or lighting one held in the hand, should not set off firecrackers in crowded places or towards other people, and should not put drops or ointment in the eyes without asking a doctor.

For pets and strays, the advice is to keep pets indoors and make a quiet, comfortable space for them. Doors and windows should be kept shut to reduce noise and smoke, soft music played and animals kept busy with favourite toys. They should be fed before the peak firecracker hours, since noise can upset eating habits. If an animal seems very distressed, owners should ask a veterinarian about anti-anxiety or calming medication. People should check for stray animals nearby before bursting firecrackers and not set them off close to them.