This refers to the editorial, “Invitation to a tragedy” (April 12). Firework displays should not be done in the midst of a populated place. They should be held at the banks of a lake or a river and their trajectories turned towards the water, so that when embers fall, they do so harmlessly in the water. Fireworks display at the Akshardham temple in New Delhi is a good example to learn from.
We also have the rotten and pervasive culture of chalta hai, with politicians willfully flouting the law and getting away with it. It is not possible for the police to stop it; if it could do so, the mice would bell the cat as well! The challenge before the system is to bring those who have access to power and abuse it to get a few additional votes or publicity, to book. Meanwhile, the Devosam Board of Kerala may not want to eliminate fireworks, but it must at least ensure that the safety of people is not compromised in the name of celebration.