Coimbatore police, Fire Services, Health Dept., urge for safe use of firecrackers on Deepavali

COIMBATORE The police, the Fire and Rescue Services and the Health Department have issued instructio

The police, the Fire and Rescue Services and the Health Department have issued instructions for safe handling of firecrackers on Deepavali.

A release issued by the police said firecrackers could be burst only during the two hours window announced by the Tamil Nadu government based on a direction from the Supreme Court.

It said the public were allowed to burst firecrackers from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Deepavali. Sale and use of fireworks that fell in the category of ‘green firecrackers’ alone would be permitted, the release said.

According to the police, those who have obtained proper licence from authorities alone should sell firecrackers. They should comply with all the norms that have to be followed while stocking and selling firecrackers.

The police and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) have asked passengers to refrain from transporting firecrackers in buses and trains. The RPF has been checking baggage of passengers at railway stations.

The Health Department has appealed to the public to make sure that children burst crackers only under the supervision of elders. People with any kind of respiratory illness should avoid smoke from firecrackers. Hands should be washed properly using soap or hand washing  solutions after handling crackers.

The Fire and Rescue Services have sought the public to avoid bursting firecrackers in places where fire may spread easily. Storing of fireworks near inflammable items and lamps/diyas should be avoided.