Roads filled with garbage post Diwali revelry

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A day after the revelry of Diwali, roads of major cities of India of the country were seen littered with remains of crackers, including the national capital where the sale of crackers has been banned by the Supreme Court.

However, the ban, which was ordered mere 10 days before the festival on the sale of crackers, did not stop the citizens from bursting crackers.

While Delhi was engulfed in smog in the early hours of Thursday, garbage on the streets were also in abundance.

The continually worsening condition of air quality in Delhi had led the Supreme Court on October 9 to ban the sale of firecrackers in New Delhi and adjoining regions till November 1, with the view to reduce pollution.

However, the ban didn't seem to have much impact on the people.

Waste in Mumbai was also more than usual days due to bursting of crackers. The municipality workers took to working earlier than their usual time.

"This is seven days' worth of garbage, and even as we sweep the roads, people continue to burst crackers," one of the workers at Mumbai's Nariman Point told ANI.

The financial capital did not ban the sale of crackers but urged citizens to minimize the use of crackers in an endeavour to observe a pollution-free Diwali.

Streets of Uttar Pradesh's capital Lucknow were also seen filled with garbage post last night's celebrations.

Locals did not refrain from bursting crackers, observing the practice as part of Indian tradition.

"If we don't burst crackers on Deepawali, how will children know of Indian culture and tradition? How will there be excitement for the festival?" Mahesh Chourasia, a resident of Lucknow's Hazratganj area told ANI, adding that India alone is questioned over pollution, even though people across the whole world burst crackers on New Year's Day.