Firecrackers flout Supreme Court restrictions as Kolkata records severe pollution on Diwali night

Detailed summary

Kolkata faced severe air pollution on Diwali night as firecrackers were burst beyond the Supreme Court's 10 pm deadline. Violations were reported near hospitals, with noise levels peaking at 96.4 decibels and PM2.5 concentrations reaching alarming levels. Activists criticized regulatory failures and questioned enforcement of green firecracker certifications.

Kolkata recorded severe air pollution on the night of Diwali and Kali Puja as firecrackers continued to be burst well past the permitted 10 pm deadline, despite Supreme Court restrictions on their use.

Environmental activists monitoring the city on November 8, 2026 reported widespread violations, particularly around hospitals, where firecrackers were allegedly burst even within hospital premises.

The environmental group Sabuj Mancha, which has monitored pollution around Kolkata's hospitals for more than a decade, described the violations as among the worst it had recorded in recent years.

The Supreme Court's October 29, 2026 order restricted firecracker use to specified hours of 8pm-10pm and prohibited their use within 300 metres of hospitals and other sensitive locations. West Bengal authorities had also issued restrictions ahead of the festival.

Sabuj Mancha teams visited five hospitals across north and south Kolkata and reported violations of noise and air pollution restrictions.

“Forget about the 100- or 300-metre restriction zones, bombs were burst even within 30 metres from healthcare units like Dr B C Roy Children’s Hospital,” said Naba Dutta, environmentalist and secretary of Sabuj Mancha.

Dr Dulal Bose, a physician and president of Sabuj Mancha, alleged that medical students burst firecrackers inside the RG Kar hospital campus, while hospital staff set off noisy fireworks, including rockets, after midnight at MR Bangur Hospital.

He also reported frequent firecracker use near Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan late at night.

“Patients are most vulnerable and should be protected at any cost; unfortunately, they cannot complain,” Bose said.

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