In a detailed representation to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mumbai-based advocate Hitendra Gandhi has called for an urgent intervention to address the recurring public health-, environmental-, and animal welfare harms caused by indiscriminate firecracker bursting during festivals, particularly Deepavali.
“The right to celebrate cannot override the right to live in safety and dignity. Regulation of carbide fireworks is now a matter of life, not just law,” Mr. Gandhi said. “The plea requests the NHRC to initiate a national study, issue public advisories, and recommend preventive regulatory action against the manufacture and use of unsafe carbide fireworks while preserving Diwali’s cultural and religious sanctity,” he added.
The appeal, submitted in the aftermath of Deepavali 2025, draws on extensive data from government and independent sources showing post-festival spikes in air pollution, with PM2.5 levels reaching up to 700 µg/m³, nearly 12 times the permissible limit. Cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru reported “very poor” to “severe” AQI levels within hours of Deepaali night, accompanied by surges in hospital admissions for respiratory ailments. Peer-reviewed studies and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) monitoring confirm that short-term exposure to firecracker pollutants poses serious risks to children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses.
