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Diwali Celebration
Jharkhand is geared up to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, with fervour and gaiety on Monday, amid some "restrictions" imposed by the state pollution control board, officials said. People are permitted to burst firecrackers within a two-hour window from 8 PM to 10 PM on Diwali night, as per an order issued by the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB). Air quality in the urban areas of all the districts ranges from "good to satisfactory this year", an official said, citing the order. The Central Pollution Control Board categorises air quality index levels in the 0-50 range as 'good', 51-100 as 'satisfactory', 101-200 as 'moderate', 201-300 as 'poor' and 301-400 as 'very poor'. The sale of firecrackers with less than a 125-decibel limit has been permitted in all the districts, he said. The JSPCB, in its order, said that violation of its guidelines would invite legal action under sections of the penal code and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, ...
The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) has cancelled all leaves of its officers and staff ahead of Diwali to ensure round-the-clock preparedness, officials said on Monday. A senior DFS officer said detailed planning is in place to handle any fire-related emergencies during the festive period. "All our fire stations and quick response teams (QRTs) have been put on high alert. We have instructed every team to respond to all distress calls without delay," the officer said. The officer also said besides all the units, many QRTs will be deployed at over 100 locations in Delhi. According to officials, last Diwali, the DFS control room received over 200 fire-related emergency calls, many linked to firecrackers, short circuits, and mishandling of diyas and candles. "Every vehicle has been checked thoroughly and is in working condition. Our aim is to ensure that no call goes unattended," another officer added. The DFS has conducted several mock drills in residential and market areas across the city
The Delhi Police and Delhi Fire Services will hold a high-level coordination meeting to review their strengthen security, traffic management and emergency response measures across the national capital ahead of Diwali. A senior police officer said the meeting will focus on streamlining coordination among all three departments to ensure smooth traffic flow, effective fire safety arrangements and overall public security during the festival season. "There will be discussion around contingency plans, crowd management at popular markets, and deployment of additional forces at sensitive locations," a senior police officer said. As Delhi witnesses huge crowds in markets and public places during Diwali, "our aim is to ensure the safety of citizens, prevent untoward incidents, and manage the traffic effectively", the officer said. Joint teams have been formed to monitor key areas and respond quickly to any emergency, the officer added. As part of the preparatory measures, Delhi Police have