Know When Bhubaneswar Can Burst Firecrackers On Diwali; CP Issues Guidelines

Bhubaneswar: Amid heavy rain warning for Odisha from October 23 induced by a possible cyclone over the Bay of Bengal, the Commissionerate Police on Friday guidelines on the sale and bursting of firecrackers in Bhubaneswar.

The residents will be allowed to burst the firecrackers only for a period of two hours from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali, which falls on October 24 when Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur are on very heavy rain alert.

A penalty will be imposed if anyone is found bursting crackers after the deadline, police sources said.

Firecrackers will be sold at 30 clusters with maximum 50 stalls at each cluster with at least 3-metre distance between them. A total of 1500 stalls are likely to be erected under 10 police limits, including the city’s outskirts.

Traders have been instructed to set up stalls made of asbestos or tin sheet and avoid keeping flammable items such as oil, lantern or candle inside the stalls. If the stalls are connected with electricity, the wires should have been covered with the wall or ceiling.

The stall would be sealed if fireworks were sold at other locations, the Commissionerate Police warned. “If anybody has information on illegal manufacturing and stock of fireworks, please inform our WhatsApp number 7077798111 of Bhubaneswar UPD,” the CP tweeted.

THE DOS

1. Buy the fireworks from reliable sellers possessing valid licence.

2. Always an adult should supervise the use of fireworks.

3. Safety precautions marked on the fireworks should be strictly followed.

4. Use a candle or an agarbati to ignite the fireworks.

5. Aerial fireworks should be used in a safe landing zone.

6. Dispose of fireworks properly by soaking them in water.

THE DON’TS

1. Never ignite fireworks while holding them. Put them down, then ignite them and walk away.

2. Don’t put fireworks in any container while igniting.

3. Any malfunctioning fireworks should be abandoned.

4. Never ignite aerial fireworks where there is an overhead obstruction (tree, leaves, wires etc.)

5. Never use fireworks inside the house.

6. Use fireworks outdoors, but not on the public thoroughfare.

7. Never experiment or make your own fireworks.

8. Never re-light a ‘dud’ firework (wait 15 to 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water).

9. Do not use spurious/illegal fireworks.