KOLKATA: For hundreds of
Covid warriors and survivors across Kolkata, the firecracker-free
Kali Puja and
Diwali on Saturday came as a huge relief and made them look ahead with hope. Even as the city breathed easy without the cracker-induced haze that would engulf Kolkata every Kali Puja evening, many said that the ban on fireworks would not only go a long way in preventing pollution-triggered illnesses but also help to check the transmission of
coronavirus. They also pointed out that since Kolkata, like the rest of the country, is still reeling under the impact of the
pandemic, a celebration with firecrackers would have been inappropriate.
Salt Lake medic Sankha Subhro Chowdhury had Covid in July. After serving a 14-day quarantine period, he was back at work, attending to Covid patients. “This year, the pandemic has been the only priority for frontline health workers like us and we had been dreading the advent of the festive period due to the
firecracker menace. Not only does it lead to pollution that affects the lungs, which are already more vulnerable due to Covid this year, but also affects those with diseases like COPD and
asthma," said Chowdhury.
The prohibition of cracker bursting and the compliance by citizens made him heave a sigh of relief. “It would have been far worse had fireworks been allowed and now we can hope for better days ahead,” he said.
It is time to take ownership of our own health if Covid has to be checked, said pulmonologist Raja Dhar. He said he was pleasantly surprised by the compliance to cracker ban, which, Dhar pointed out, would eventually help to wipe out the pandemic. “There would have been more pollution and a faster transmission of the virus had firecrackers been allowed. It’s important to realize that we must all look after ourselves for the sake of others. It’s good to see that measures are being taken to ensure compliance to the rule. I expect this to have a positive impact,” said Dhar, who himself suffered from Covid and spent two weeks at the hospital.
Covid survivor Somava Gupta, an assistant engineer with a civic body, said he was still weak after getting infected in September. “Thankfully, my lungs will be spared the pounding of pollutants this time,” he said.
Doctors for Patients (DOPA), a forum of doctors that had filed a PIL at the court for banning of crackers, said that the organization was happy with the execution of the court order by the administration. It had sought the ban not only for Diwali and Kali Puja but also for
Chhath and Jagaddhatri Puja.
“The kind of administrative and police action to stop people from using crackers is quite satisfying. It has brought a sea change with people staying away from crackers. We wish the administration does not wait for some organizations to knock the doors of the judiciary each time when it comes to taking decisions like this,” said oncologist Sharadwat Mukhopadyay of DOPA.
“It is nice that good sense has prevailed so far. Firecrackers would have been the last nail in the coffin of Covid patients with lung issues. And it would also impact discharged patients who still have borderline lung problems,” said ECMO specialist Arpan Chakraborty of Medica Superspecialty Hospital.
Firecrackers not just trigger pollution but also lead to congregations which could be equally dangerous now, pointed out
internal medicine consultant Rahul Jain. “People tend to burst crackers in a group and social distancing norms would have suffered,” said Jain.