Firecracker frenzy alarms citizens as police patrols thin during Tihar

Kathmandu, Oct. 30: Kathmandu residents have voiced deep concern over the widespread and unrestrained use of firecrackers, fireworks and explosives during this year’s Tihar festival. 

What used to be a celebration marked by light and music has, this year, turned into a period of deafening noise, sleepless nights and alarming pollution across the Valley and other urban centres.

In previous years, firecracker sounds were sporadic, but this time the explosions echoed relentlessly through alleyways, disturbing the children, elderly, patients, and pets. The excessive use of pyrotechnics has raised questions about public safety and the right to live peacefully amid festive celebrations.

Archana Thapa of Nagarjun-1, Kathmandu, a new mother and raising her six-month baby girl, was unable to sleep for nights due to the loud noise. “Every time she tried to sleep, another explosion startled her awake making the child frightened all the time.” 

“It wasn’t like this before. People need to understand how their fun causes distress to others,” Thapa lamented.

Similar complaints have poured in from across the Valley. Residents said the situation was far worse than last year, with continuous explosions making life unbearable.

The noise has directly affected vulnerable groups. Bhola Nath Kshetri, 71, an onco patient in Nagarjun Municipality-1, Kathmandu, said the fireworks of different levels of sound made it difficult for him to sleep throughout the night and so did the loud sound of Deusi-Bhailo till late night,” said. 

Pet owners have also expressed distress. Subham Shrestha of Kathmandu Metropolitan City-16, Taudole, said his dog trembles in fear and hides every time fireworks go off. “People forget that animals experience this far worse than humans,” he added.

Nepal Police Spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Binod Ghimire acknowledged that firecracker-related seizures and arrests had increased this year compared to the past. However, he said public mentality remains the biggest obstacle.

“Many still believe Tihar isn’t complete without bursting crackers,” he said, adding that despite police efforts to seize illegal imports at borders and markets, total control is impossible without civic cooperation.

The police have launched awareness campaigns highlighting firecracker-related risks from injuries and fires to air and noise pollution and have initiated legal action under the Explosives Act-2074. Large quantities of contraband fireworks were seized in Kanchanpur, Makwanpur, and Chitwan districts, this year, he said. The Clause 7 of the National Criminal Procedures (Code) Act, 2074 has the provision that explosive materials should not be produced. 

Armed Police Force (APF) Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Shailendra Thapa said open borders and deep-rooted attitudes were the main reasons behind the surge in imports.

“Despite regular patrols along the frontier, people sneak small quantities across under various pretexts. It’s impossible to completely block movement between two countries with close social and family ties,” he explained.

The APF reported daily seizures and destruction of large caches of firecrackers this season, suggesting either higher import volumes or stricter surveillance.

Ramesh Raj Pant, Ph.D. in environmental science and an Assistant Professor at TU, observed that the volume and intensity of fireworks this year were ‘alarmingly high,’ especially given the lack of effective government enforcement. Pant said the toxic smoke from fireworks contains sulphur, sulphur dioxide, and carbon monoxide, all harmful to health.

“The impact is particularly severe because fireworks are detonated at close range, unlike vehicle emissions that disperse in the air,” he said. Children, who often handle or stay near firecrackers, face the highest risk.

Another environmental expert, Bhushan Tuladhar, said that air pollution in Kathmandu spiked during Tihar due to firecracker smoke, although not yet at extreme level like in Delhi. He cautioned, however, that “if this trend continues unchecked, the situation will worsen in coming years.”