370 Diwali revellers punished

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Bhubaneswar: As many as 370 Diwali revellers of twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack were punished for flouting the Supreme Court’s directive on bursting of firecrackers till late Wednesday, police commissioner Satyajit Mohanty said Thursday. The police registered cases against 140 people of the twin cities for allegedly bursting crackers beyond the time-frame set by the apex court Wednesday. The police have also collected a penalty of Rs 1,15,000 from 230 persons for the rules violation under Section 5 of the Fireworks and Loud speakers (Regulations) Act, 1958, Mohanty said.
The apex court last week specified that firecrackers could be burst only between 8 pm and 10 pm on Diwali night and allowed use of green crackers under a certain decibel limit and imposed restrictions across the country with the exception of Tamil Nadu.
However, many revellers violated the two hours time period and burst crackers beyond the limit. Some burnt crackers before 8 pm and continued beyond the 10 pm deadline. The city police also imposed fines on several violators under the Urban Police District (UPD) Act, 2003. According to a press note released by the Commissionerate police, they detected around 230 violators who were penalised under Sections 28 and 96 of UPD Act.
The violators ignored the restrictions imposed by the apex court despite wide publicity of the court’s orders through social media and various print and electronic media ahead of Diwali festivities. Police also fined those revellers who burst crackers on roads and public thoroughfares.
Meanwhile, 300 persons were admitted to the Capital Hospital with burn injuries from Wednesday evening to late night. Five of the critically injured revellers were shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack.
However, no major mishap was reported in the city barring stray incidents. Fire brigade personnel told Orissa POST a garbage dump at Aditya Care Hospital in Chandrasekharpur and a makeshift house were gutted during the festival caused by fireworks.