Fireworks fade, trauma lingers: How Diwali firecrackers leave animals and birds wounded?

For humans, Diwali is a celebration of light, colour and sound. For countless non-human animals and birds, however, the festival can mean days of terror, injuries, displacement and, sometimes, death.

Sunny, an Indie dog living with a family in Baguiati, Kolkata, went missing on Diwali night. For three agonising days, his family searched for him. He was eventually spotted and rescued from Kaikhali, nearly four kilometres away from home. He had possibly run frantically from one place to another, driven by panic and fear. Miraculously, he was physically unharmed. But the psychological trauma took considerably longer to heal.

His parent, Tirthankar Sengupta, recalls the ordeal with relief, but also with a lingering sense of distress.

"While I have found help and compassion in many human beings, I cannot stop wondering how insensitive a huge section of our society is to the pain of strays," he says.

Sunny was fortunate. Not every animal that disappears amid the deafening explosions of Diwali finds its way home.

When sound becomes a source of terror

Animals, particularly dogs, have considerably more sensitive hearing than humans. The sudden explosions of firecrackers can trigger extreme fear, confusion and disorientation. For street dogs, the consequences can be particularly devastating.

Sharmistha Das, President of Baranagar Helping Hands Society, has witnessed the aftermath of such celebrations through years of rescue work. She describes how dogs, overwhelmed by the noise, run blindly in search of shelter, often ending up beneath vehicles, inside drains or in unfamiliar neighbourhoods.

"The deafening sound of firecrackers hits their nervous systems almost like an explosion," she explains.

The physical manifestations of fear can include excessive salivation, incessant panting, abnormally elevated heart rates and uncontrollable trembling. Some animals become withdrawn, stop eating and remain lethargic for days after the celebrations have ended.

Das says rescue calls increase several times over the usual volume from before Diwali through Jagaddhatri Puja and Chhath Puja, particularly around Diwali. Many concern road accidents involving frightened dogs, severe burns, animals trapped in drains and animals that have wandered away from their familiar territories.

Community dogs are especially vulnerable. Unlike household pets, they have no secure indoor spaces to retreat to. Even when they find temporary shelter beneath parked cars, shop shutters or staircases, they may be chased away or deliberately targeted with firecrackers.

Injuries and deliberate cruelty

The consequences are not limited to panic-induced accidents. Das recounts disturbing instances of deliberate cruelty, including animals being lured with food before firecrackers are placed inside their mouths and ignited. Such acts can mutilate their jaws and tongues, destroy their teeth and leave them permanently unable to eat or drink.

She also describes cases of firecrackers being tied to dogs' tails or bodies, causing devastating burns and deep wounds.

Apart from deliberate abuse, frightened animals frequently sustain fractured limbs, crushed hips, head injuries and spinal trauma after being hit by vehicles. Sparks can injure their eyes, while desperate attempts to escape can leave them trapped in barbed wire or uncovered drains.

The trauma also has a geographical dimension. Dogs can travel several kilometres in panic, becoming displaced from familiar surroundings. Once in unfamiliar neighbourhoods, they may face attacks from territorial packs, hunger and further accidents. Some are eventually reunited with their caregivers; others never return.

The unseen victims: Wildlife and nocturnal birds

The suffering extends beyond domestic and community animals. Wildlife and birds are equally exposed to the effects of fireworks, particularly nocturnal species.

Chitrak Pramanik, President of Wildlife Environment Saviour Trust, Howrah, points out that loud explosions and intense flashes of light can frighten birds, driving them away from their nests and territories, sometimes permanently.

Nocturnal birds are particularly vulnerable because most firecrackers burst after dark, when these birds are active. Sky lanterns pose an additional danger, as birds can become entangled in them and sustain potentially fatal injuries.

Pramanik recalls rescuing a barn owl during Diwali celebrations around a year ago. The bird had sustained injuries after getting entangled in a sky lantern. Following medical treatment and rehabilitation, it recovered and was eventually released into its natural habitat.

He warns that exposure to intense noise and light can cause lasting physical and psychological problems in animals and birds. Panic-induced flight can also result in collisions and fatal road accidents.

"Diwali should truly remain a festival of lights. The administration must take stringent measures to curb the use of noisy firecrackers," he says.

What veterinarians witness

Veterinarians Dr Sk Inamul Haque and Sudipta Neogi highlight the physical and psychological toll of firecrackers on animals and birds. Sudden explosions activate the fight-or-flight response, causing increased heart rates, rapid breathing, trembling and extreme panic. Dogs may pant and drool, cats tend to hide, while birds flap frantically and risk injuring themselves. Direct injuries include burns, eye damage and skin wounds; panic-induced flight can cause fractures and road accidents. Firecracker smoke containing PM2.5, PM10 and toxic particles irritates the respiratory tract and can aggravate existing respiratory conditions. Birds are particularly vulnerable because their specialised respiratory systems, including air sacs, make them susceptible to airborne pollutants.

Are green crackers the answer?

Green crackers, developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), are designed to reduce particulate emissions compared with conventional firecrackers. However, 'green' does not mean pollution-free or noiseless.

The prescribed sound emission levels for SWAS and STAR varieties are 105–110 decibels (dB), while SAFAL crackers have levels of 110–115 dB. The permissible noise ceiling for green crackers is below 125 dB.

Although they reduce certain pollutants, green crackers still produce noise, smoke and flashes of light. For animals and birds, whose heightened sensitivity makes them particularly vulnerable to sudden explosions, these crackers can cause fear, disorientation and physical distress. Reduced emissions do not necessarily translate into reduced suffering for wildlife. Green crackers, therefore, cannot be considered entirely harmless to animals and birds.

A little compassion can save lives

Das urges residents to take simple precautions: keep garages and sheltered spaces accessible, provide food and clean drinking water before the fireworks begin, and check beneath vehicles before starting them. People should also report deliberate cruelty and contact animal rescue organisations immediately when they encounter injured animals.

Sunny's story is a reminder that the consequences of a few hours of celebration can linger long after the last firecracker has been extinguished. For animals who cannot understand the noise, identify its source or seek protection, the festival can become an ordeal of unimaginable fear.

Perhaps the real spirit of a festival of lights lies in ensuring that its brightness does not come at the cost of another living being's suffering.