Odisha follows Rajasthan, bans crackers due to Covid-19

BHUBANESWAR/BENGALURU :Odisha government on Tuesday banned the sale and use of firecrackers from November 10-30 worried over the impact it may have on Covid-19 patients. Karnataka, meanwhile, is mulling a similar prohibition on the lines of Rajasthan government’s firecracker ban on Sunday.
Disclosing that a ban is under consideration, Karnataka health minister K Sudhakar told TOI: “The final decision will be taken after discussions with the CM.” Rajasthan has banned crackers this year following concerns over their impact on the health of Covid-19 patients while Delhi has allowed only “green firecrackers”. Doctors treating Covid-19 patients have raised concerns over the possible effect of smoke emanating from bursting of crackers on patients in home isolation. Covid-19 pneumonia can worsen with the air pollution caused by bursting of crackers, they point out.
Odisha is passing through a critical stage of Covid-19. Besides, the winter season is approaching during which the elderly, children, persons with comorbidities and others are known to develop respiratory problems. In Diwali and Kartika Purnima, people usually burn firecrackers, which can further aggravate respiratory problems.
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