Elderly Man Dies in Jalandhar After Firecracker Smoke Turns Air Toxic on Diwali

On the night of Diwali, emergency services in Jalandhar, Punjab, responded to a report of a senior citizen who had been exposed to dense firecracker smoke. The man was found unconscious and later declared dead at the scene, with preliminary investigations indicating that the toxic fumes caused respiratory failure.
Police and health officials confirmed that the smoke from illegal or excessive firecracker use had rendered the local air quality hazardous, prompting warnings to residents to avoid open areas.
The incident has heightened concerns over the safety of firecracker celebrations in the state, with the Punjab Pollution Control Board urging stricter enforcement of firework regulations.
Local authorities have launched a probe to identify the source of the fireworks and to assess compliance with existing bans on certain types of explosives.
The death adds to a series of Diwali-related accidents reported across Punjab, underscoring the need for public awareness about the health risks of firecracker pollution.