Diwali fireworks across India have taken a toll on dogs, cats, birds and livestock on Sunday.
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the biggest festivals in India. It is celebrated by millions of people in India and around the world. Families light lamps, decorate their homes, share food and spend time together. F
ireworks are also a popular part of the celebrations in many places. But the loud explosions, bright flashes and smoke can have serious effects on animals and birds.
Animal welfare organizations are calling for stricter controls on fireworks and stronger laws to limit noise pollution.
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Puppies died in their sleep from firecrackers
On Diwali night, a stray firecracker spark set fire to bushes on an empty plot in the Khanpura Vas area of Jalore, in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The flames spread quickly, leaving four puppies sleeping among the bushes with no chance to escape. All four were burnt to death.
This was more than just a tragic incident involving four puppies. It highlighted the dangers that fireworks pose to animals during Diwali, particularly those that have no way of protecting themselves or finding shelter from the noise and flames.
Dilip Bhatt, an animal welfare volunteer in Jalore, says local residents tried to put out the fire, but fire engines could not reach the spot because of the narrow lanes.
Eventually, residents managed to control the blaze using water pipes from their homes. Bhatt says the puppies were just two days old when they died in the fire. Their mother was left distraught, running around, crying loudly and repeatedly banging her head against things.
A similar tragedy happened on Diwali night in Jalandhar, Punjab. A lit firecracker landed in a room on the second floor of a house, triggering a fire. A 65-year-old paralysed man and his pet dog died in the blaze.
Scared stray dog jumps from building
In Bengaluru, Karnataka, an eight-month-old stray female dog also lost her life after being frightened by the sound of firecrackers. The dog had been living in an under-construction 14-storey building in the Kannamangala area.
Panicked by the loud explosions, she reportedly jumped from a great height. Her body was found the following day. The incident came to light after an animal lover who had been looking after her spoke about what had happened.
Babulal Jaju, Rajasthan regional coordinator for People for Animals, says such incidents may appear to be isolated accidents, but they happen every year around Diwali.
Fireworks, which are a source of celebration and entertainment for people, can cause fear, stress and, in some cases, death among animals and birds. Jaju says people often forget about the suffering of animals while celebrating, leaving them to bear the consequences.
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Firecracker sparks destroy animal shelters and fodder
The damage caused by fireworks is not limited to animals being directly injured or killed. In several places, sparks from firecrackers have also set fire to animal shelters and stored fodder.
In Chanalag village in the Sirmaur region of Himachal Pradesh, a fire broke out in a cowshed from fireworks. Six female goats, four male goats and a female calf died in the blaze. A large quantity of fodder stored in the shed was also reduced to ashes.
In Sirohi village in Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur district, a fire in a house destroyed animal fodder and other belongings. A calf was also badly burnt.
Livestock owners in Gyeong village in Haryana’s Kaithal district suffered a different kind of loss following the loud explosions of firecrackers. Seven pregnant buffaloes went into premature labour.
According to their owners, the animals were frightened by fireworks that continued for two to three hours. All the unborn calves reportedly died. The buffaloes were between two and eight months pregnant. Their owners are now arranging medical treatment for them.
The impact of loud noise and bright lights
Dilip Bhatt, an animal activist from Jalore, says firecrackers are set off for four to five days around Diwali. This year was no different. The loud explosions kept animals and birds frightened throughout the celebrations. Some were seen trembling, barking continuously, hiding, refusing food or running away from their usual surroundings.
Bhura Singh, a resident of Sangaria in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district, says seven or eight stray dogs usually live near his home. However, they ran away on Diwali night because of the firecracker noise. Only two returned and were seen again.
Sunny, a pet dog belonging to a family in Baguiati, Kolkata, West Bengal, went missing on Diwali night. Frightened by the loud explosions, he ran far away from home.
After searching for him, the family eventually found him in Kaikhali, about four kilometres away. Fortunately, Sunny had no physical injuries, but the experience left him badly traumatised.
Injured animals and birds arrive at hospitals
In the days following Diwali, veterinary hospitals received a steady stream of animals and birds injured or distressed by fireworks.
In Delhi, several dogs and cats suffering from burns were brought in for treatment. Birds that had fallen from their nests after being startled by loud explosions were also taken to hospitals.
Some were tiny fledglings that had not yet learned to fly. While some had broken wings, others were so frightened and stressed that they had stopped eating and remained huddled in corners.
Doctor said 25 injured or sick birds were brought to the hospital after Diwali. He also reported two deaths among animals and birds following the firecracker blasts.
At an animal hospital in Dwarka, 16 dogs and 10 cats received treatment. Many had suffered burns, while others had been injured by exploding firecrackers.
In two particularly disturbing cases, firecrackers had been tied to dogs’ tails. Both animals were badly burnt and were crying out in pain.
In Mumbai, 38 animals and birds affected by fireworks were brought to Parel Animal Hospital on Diwali day alone. This was nearly double the number recorded the previous year.
According to a media report quoting the hospital’s administrator, Dr Mayur Dangar, the cases included seven dogs, two cats, 12 pigeons and 17 kites. Some animals had suffered burns from firecracker sparks, while several birds experienced breathing difficulties and eye problems caused by smoke and bright flashes of light.
In Agra, Uttar Pradesh, veterinary hospitals reportedly received 25 to 30 sick or injured pets every day in the aftermath of Diwali. Many had suffered serious injuries after coming into contact with firecrackers. Some sustained such severe damage to their jaws that they needed surgery.
No data on animals
There is no publicly available national data on the number of animals and birds affected by fireworks during Diwali in India. Animal welfare organizations and rescue groups in different cities treat injured animals and respond to emergency calls, but their records are not brought together into a common national database.
Figures from Ahmedabad offer an indication of the scale of the problem. During Diwali in 2024, Jivdaya Charitable Trust recorded more than 450 cases of injured animals and birds over five days.
The British animal welfare organization, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), is calling for stricter laws for the use and sale of fireworks.
The organization says that every year, fireworks leave many animals frightened, stressed and injured. In some cases, the injuries prove fatal.
The RSPCA has urged the government to lower the maximum permitted noise level for traditional fireworks from 120 decibels to 90 decibels. It has also called for consumer fireworks to be limited to categories F1 and F2, with sales allowed only through licensed retailers.
Other recommendations include setting up firework-free zones in areas where animals, wildlife and vulnerable people are particularly at risk. The organization has also suggested that local councils arrange alternative celebrations and promote options such as drone displays.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: theanimalreader.com
