'Say no to crackers, go only for earthen lamps'

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Oct 26: Burn Care Foundation, Guwahati has appealed to the people of the State not to use crackers in this Diwali, and to go only for earthen lamps so as to boost the local industry.

Burn Care Foundation is a social organization being run by Nemcare Hospital.

Talking to newsmen in the city today, Burn Care Director Dr. Hitesh Deka gave a statistics of people injured in Diwali by the use of crackers etc., and said: “In the fast five years since 2010 as many as 230 people sustained burn injuries in the city in Diwali, the break-up being 160 in the use of kolgash, 48 in bursting crackers, 8 by earthen lamps and 17 by fuljori. Taking such injuries into account, I appeal to the people of the State to be cautious while celebrating the Diwali.”

Dr. Deka also appealed to the people of the State to use only locally-made earthen lamps in the Diwali so as to help boost the local industry. “This Diwali falling on October 30, a black day being observed in memory of the serial blasts that had rocked Guwahati in 2008, I appeal to the people of the State not to go for crackers. Simple lighting of earthen lamps will serve the purpose of observing the black day as well as Diwali as such lamps are a must for both the purposes.” Dr. Deka further said that children are always at risk while celebrating Diwali. “Special care should be taken to keep children away from crackers in this Diwali,” he added.