Unpredictability and force at which ‘rocket’ crackers travel also make them undesirable for thickly populated areas
The death of S Dhanush, a resident of Thyagaraja Nagar and student of Delhi Public School (South) who was hit by a rocket has revived talks for a ban on the sale of rockets.
Rockets are considered to be amongst the most dangerous of fire-crackers as it has the power to travel in unimaginable ways. Dhanush died when he was watching the procession along with his uncle and friends. It is said that they were standing around 100 metres from the place where the crackers were being lit.
Ophthalmologists in the city say that every year, scores of children lose their eyesight mainly due to rocket attacks during Diwali festival. In 2017 Shahrukh Khan (27), a painter residing in LR Nagara in Audugdi, was stepping out of his house when a rocket came and hit his left eye, causing a grievous injury and permanent loss of sight. Seven-year-old-Mithun was also admitted to the Minto hospital after he sustained injuries on his face and eyes after a half burnt flower pot went off near his face.
So, with increasing incidents, there is a chorus demanding a ban on rockets forever. “Rockets are one of the most fanciful of fireworks. Probably, this is why rockets were bought in large numbers. However, the potential dangers of rockets have forced buyers not to ask for it,” said Radha Shyam, a resident of Rajajinagar.
“Rockets are dangerous as there is high probability of them misfiring. Rockets need to be mounted on a bottle or a utensil and we cannot predict the direction they will take. The worst is that the rocket tips are sharp and added to it, the rockets are designed in such a way that it shall travel a distance before actually bursting. So, the danger of rocket burning is more in case of a misfire as it travels towards the target and bursts open. So, rockets should be avoided,” said Anoop Gowda, a college student.
Chinmayi K, a college student said that many don’t buy rockets. However, when the crackers are bought through boxes (a combo of various crackers), rockets are packed in it and one cannot just throw it away. Hence, the manufacturers and sellers need to be pressurised to stop the manufacturing of cracker rockets.
Chinmayi’s demand got support from environmentalist AN Yellappa Reddy. He said there is a growing demand for ban of fire crackers altogether. “Lighting up of firecrackers will increase suspended and nano particulate matter in the air, making it difficult to breathe. Those who wish to light fire crackers should find a field outside the city for it. Lighting of fire crackers in human habitations should be banned and rockets should be banned even on open fields.
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