Four people suffered burns during Vijayadashami celebrations in Noida on Friday night. The injured are Shyam Sundar, 45, Sunil Sharma, 28, Sumitra Mandal, 45 and her seven-year-old son Shubhojeet. Since the burns of three were especially severe, they have been referred to hospitals in Delhi for specialised medical care.
“In Noida’s Sector 8, before the effigy of Ravana went up in smoke, Sumitra and Shubhojeet like many others tried to collect holy ash from the spot. A smouldering bamboo fell on them. They were rushed to a district hospital and later referred to Delhi,” said a police official.
In yet another incident in Noida’s Sector 9, Shyam Sundar received burns from a spluttering firecracker standing as he was close to Ravana’s effigy. Sunil Sharma, another curious bystander, too suffered burns when the demon king — booby-trapped with fireworks — exploded in the night sky.
“Once the injured get better, a statement will be recorded and if the organisers are culpable, action will be taken. We have already asked all the Durga Puja organisers to ensure safety measures during pyrotechnic display and keep fire extinguishers ready,” a police official added.