Ahead of Diwali, the Telangana High Court has asked the government to ensure the ban of sale and bursting of crackers in the State. This comes in the context of the pandemic.

Delivering its directive on the basis of a PIL, the HC said that the bursting of crackers could further exacerbate the suffering of people in the times of COVID-19. Earlier, the KCR government submitted to the court that it is allowing the bursting of crackers in keeping with the guidelines of the National Green Tribunal.

The PIL was filed by a High Court advocate named P Indira Prakash. "It is directed that the government should give wide publicity to the ban. It should also inform this court on or before November 19 on the steps taken following this order," the HC said.

Firecrackers have already been banned in five States. In Andhra Pradesh, the bursting is allowed only from 8 pm to 10 pm.