Is India Winning the War Against Rising Non-Communicable Diseases? The latest health statistics paint a concerning picture: diabetes, heart disease, and cancer rates are climbing, impacting millions across the country. From rural healthcare access to the burgeoning urban health crisis, challenges remain significant. This week, we delve into the crucial initiatives underway – government policies, technological advancements in telemedicine, and the rising role of preventative healthcare – that aim to address this national health emergency. Experts weigh in on the effectiveness of current strategies and the critical need for increased public awareness campaigns targeting lifestyle diseases. Are these efforts enough? Explore Abtak.com's in-depth coverage on healthcare in India and discover the vital information you need to protect your well-being and the future of public health. Stay informed; stay healthy.
Bengaluru: Firecracker-related eye injuries continued on the second day of Deepavali. Between Sunday and Tuesday, the total number of eye injuries treated in the city's eye hospitals touched 96, including 48 children. Most of the cases were minor injuries.On Tuesday, there were four cases, including one child, at Minto Hospital. Two were grievous injuries, while the other two were simple injuries caused by crackers such as bijli roll, atom bomb, flowerpot, Lakshmi bomb, and rockets. In the past t
VMPL New Delhi [India], July 18: In recent times, many of us have encountered the term 'Progressive Myopia'. But what exactly is it? Progressive Myopia is a form of near-sightedness where the correction needed to clear vision increases by more than -0.5 dioptre within a year. This condition predominantly affects children and teenagers. The earlier Myopia develops, the faster it progresses. Consequently, children who develop Myopia early in life are more susceptible to progressive myopia and eventually high myopia. Dr Padma Priya G K, MBBS, DO, DNB, FPOS, FAICO Consultant Paediatric Ophthal ...Read More >
Visakhapatnam: As Diwali approaches, the narrow lanes of Kummari Veedhi in Visakhapatnam's Akkayyapalem area come alive with traditional diya-making. Here, artisans, including 93-year-old Pardes from Srikakulam, continue the age-old craft despite declining sales caused by machine-made alternatives. Additionally, local NGOs are empowering especially abled individuals and children to join the festive production, creating new opportunities to continue the city's pottery heritage. "I am 93 and will be 94 this year. I make 100 to 150 diyas a day, working from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. My son helps me in t ...Read More >
Gurgaon: A large number of people flocked to the cracker godowns and shops of Gadoli on Saturday following the Supreme Court's order permitting the use of green crackers.The influx caused traffic jams early in the morning, and by 8 AM, the tailback of vehicles reached up to Umang Bharadwaj Chowk. Crowds had started gathering in front of the three licensed warehouses in the area from midnight. The court permitted only three days for the sale of the crackers. As a result, people wanted to buy stock as soon as possible.Not just from the city, but buyers from Delhi had also arrived to buy firecrac ...Read More >
Kolkata: Cracker violations have turned out to be a concern in various pockets of the city on Dhanteras (Saturday), barely two days ahead of Kali Puja and Diwali. These violations have been reported from Kasba, Dhakuria, Baguiati, New Town, Salt Lake, Phoolbagan and New Alipore. The seizures of illegal firecrackers had become more than double in the past 48 hours, police said on Saturday. The cops will intensify the crackdown on firecracker violators on the day of Diwali (Monday) by forming special teams to raid the city. "In case of use of banned crackers, we may not provide bail from police ...Read More >
New Delhi: What was being discreetly sold under the table just two days ago is now out in the open. With the Supreme Court permitting the sale of green crackers, hundreds of shoppers poured into the narrow lanes of Old Delhi on Wednesday in anticipation of purchasing firecrackers. However, as per the apex court's order, the sale is officially allowed only from Oct 18 to 20.Traders are now faced with the question of implementation as well as logistics. Harjeet Singh Chhabra, general secretary, Sadar Nishkam Welfare Association, said even though the ban has been lifted, what qualifies as a 'gree ...Read More >
New Delhi: Supreme Court's move to ease the ban on firecrackers is largely seen as a festive allowance, but some Delhiites are planning to illuminate homes and hearts, not skies. They plan to replace fireworks with earthen lamps, lanterns and shared meals at community gatherings.The shift from smoke to light, which reflects a growing awareness that Diwali joy needn't be at the cost of the city's air and its residents' health, is palpable in several neighbourhoods. Locals in Greater Kailash-II have embraced the idea of a quiet Diwali over the years. "We have got used to meeting at the park and ...Read More >
Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) [India], October 20 (ANI): The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel celebrated Diwali along the International Border in Jaisalmer on Monday by bursting crackers and lighting candles and earthen lamps. During the celebrations, Commandant Mukesh Panwar of the 122 Battalion said that they were observing the festival as a family. "We are celebrating Diwali along the international border with great fervour like a family," the BSF Commandant said. Speaking to ANI, Panwar also commented on ongoing Operation Sindoor, saying, "Operation Sindoor 2 is a distant thing because Op ...Read More >
New Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday said authorities cannot go against demolition orders issued by courts and stressed that displaced residents have been provided accommodation.Her words came in the wake of the recent Madrasi Camp demolition for which the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has criticised her. AAP has targeted Gupta, and alleged that the displaced Madrasi Camp residents were provided homes in faraway Narela, and those lack basic amenities.Attending an event to mark the construction of a Jan Sewa camp at a slum cluster in the Haiderpur area, Gupta told reporters: "In t ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 18: Myopia, or near-sightedness, is a condition where nearby objects appear clear, but distant objects look blurry. It is the most common refractive error, typically affecting the younger population worldwide. With its rising prevalence, it is estimated that by 2050, half of the global population will be Myopic. Quote: Myopia, or near-sightedness, is rapidly increasing among children, Today children are spending less time outdoors and more time on screens, and these lifestyle factors, along with genetics, are contributing significantly to the rise in myopia. Once myopi ...Read More >
India's top court on Wednesday permitted the use of some firecrackers in New Delhi during the Diwali festival, easing a blanket ban even as the capital battles unhealthy winter air pollution. The Supreme Court said the controlled use of the less-polluting "green firecrackers" -- developed by federal research institutes to reduce particulate and gas emission -- would be allowed for limited periods between Saturday and Tuesday. During Diwali, a major Hindu festival of lights, widespread bursting ...Read More >
Gangtok (Sikkim) [India], October 18 (ANI): The Sikkim Pollution Control Board on Saturday issued an order prohibiting the manufacturing, sale, and bursting of all types of sound and light-emitting firecrackers in the state ahead of Diwali, which falls on October 20. The Sikkim Pollution Control Board on Saturday issued an order prohibiting the manufacturing, sale, and bursting of all types of sound and light-emitting firecrackers in the state ahead of Diwali, which falls on October 20. In its order, the Pollution Control Board urged citizens to refrain from using firecrackers and single-use ...Read More >
The Sikkim Pollution Control Board (SPCB) on Saturday issued an order banning the manufacture, sale, and use of all types of sound- and light-emitting firecrackers in the state ahead of Diwali, which falls on October 20. In its directive, the SPCB urged citizens to avoid firecrackers and single-use plastics, promoting eco-friendly alternatives such as light displays and other environmentally conscious ways of celebrating the festival. Meanwhile, in Aligarh, the firecracker market has opened ahead of Diwali, with shoppers gradually visiting stalls at Numai Ground. Various firecrackers are on ...Read More >
Kolkata: Pockets in Kolkata and the fringes saw brazen violation of norms as crackers were burst on the eve of Kali Puja and Diwali. This occurred even as cops and WBPCB intensified their vigil, prompting a spike in arrests and seizures. Activists are worried this could turn into worse rule-flouting on Kali Puja night.Though the day started on a quiet note, as the evening progressed, residents in several parts of south Kolkata -- Gariahat, Golpark, Kasba, Behala, Sarsuna, Santoshpur, Bansdroni, and New Alipore -- complained of back-to-back bursting of crackers and the release of shells in the ...Read More >
CHENNAI: An explosion caused by illegally stored firecrackers ripped through a residential building in Pattabiram on Sunday, killing four people and sending waves of panic through the neighbourhood just ahead of Deepavali. The incident occurred at the residence of one Aarumugam on Vivasaya Street. Preliminary investigations suggest that Aarumugam's son Vijay (25) had been illegally manufacturing and storing a large cache of country-made firecrackers, which are used at temple festivals and funerals, at the property. "It is an unlicensed facility. The building, which was already weak, came dow ...Read More >
Prayagraj: Police on Sunday arrested five persons and seized around 1,400 kg of illegal firecrackers worth lakhs of rupees from three separate raids and checking in Handia, Jhunsi and Kaudhiyara areas of district.In Handia police arrested three men, including two brothers, for storing firecrackers illegally at a storehouse in Baraut block and seized over 977.360 kg of illegal firecrackers worth Rs 8 lakh. The three accused were booked under section 288 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and section ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], October 18 (ANI): The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Saturday announced revised train timings for Diwali, with early morning services on the eve of the festival and curtailed operations on the night of Diwali. As per the announcement, on the eve of Diwali, Sunday (October 19), metro services on the Pink, Magenta, and Grey lines will commence at 6 am instead of the usual 7 am, which is the standard start time for Sundays. The change has been implemented to accommodate the anticipated increase in passenger movement ahead of the festival. Also Read | Diwali 2025 Bank ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 18 (PTI) Ahead of Diwali, authorities have issued 103 temporary licenses for the retail sale of NEERI-approved green firecrackers at designated locations across the city till Saturday, officials said. The district authorities, in collaboration with Delhi Police, have formed patrolling teams headed by area sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) to ensure full compliance with the Supreme Court's guidelines regarding the sale and use of approved firecrackers, officials added. A total of 159 applications were submitted for temporary licenses to sell green firecrackers. Of these, 103 ha ...Read More >
Stage I of GRAP is implemented when the AQI exceeds 200. Stage II (Very Poor) comes into effect when it crosses 300, Stage III (Severe) at levels above 350, and Stage IV (Severe Plus) when the AQI goes beyond 400. New Delhi: Delhi's air quality deteriorated to the 'poor' category for the first time this season with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 211 on Tuesday ahead of Diwali. It forced Commission for Air Quality Management to impose stage I of Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) in Delhi-NCR. The ...Read More >
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 18 (MExN): The Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, has issued an advisory cautioning citizens against the use of banned firecrackers during the upcoming festive season and appealed to all residents to celebrate in an eco-friendly and responsible manner. The advisory stated that bursting of firecrackers is not only environmentally hazardous but also causes significant stress, fear, and other health-related issues in both humans and animals due to loud explosions and toxic gases. As per the guidelines, fireworks will be permitted strictly between 8 PM and 10 PM on Diwali and othe ...Read More >
Chandigarh: In a landmark advancement in urological surgery and male infertility treatment, the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, has successfully performed India's first robot-assisted vasovasostomy -- a sophisticated procedure to reverse vasectomy -- using cutting-edge robotic technology.The breakthrough surgery was performed on July 9, 2025, by a skilled team led by Dr Aditya Prakash Sharma, Dr Girdhar Bora, both Additional Professors, and Prof Ravi Mohan from the Department of Urology. This pioneering intervention replaces the traditional micros ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 18 (PTI) The sale of green firecrackers began in the national capital on Saturday after the Supreme Court allowed their sale and use under certain conditions, bringing cheer to traders who reported a steady flow of customers through the day. Traders who had applied for licences to sell eco-friendly firecrackers received approvals earlier in the day. Markets across the city, including Sadar Bazaar, saw increased activity as residents rushed to them to make their purchases. Paramjeet Singh Pamma, president of the Sadar Bazaar Traders' Association, said traders were prepared to mee ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday said the government plans to approach the Supreme Court to seek permission to allow the use of certified green firecrackers to celebrate Diwali in the national Capital. Reiterating the government's commitment towards taking measures to check air pollution in the city, CM Gupta said, "It will also be ensured that all green firecrackers are manufactured only by authorised institutions and have been certified and tested by competent and relevant departments." "The government believes that a balance between public sentiments and environmental ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Wednesday said the Supreme Court's decision to permit green firecrackers during Diwali would be implemented with strict monitoring to prevent any violation of its conditions. He announced that district magistrates will soon designate specific areas for the sale of eco-friendly firecrackers and issue temporary licenses to retailers, while ensuring that banned varieties stay out of the market. Welcoming the court's order, Sirsa said the move would allow people to celebrate Diwali responsibly without compromising public health. "We ...Read More >
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], October 17 (ANI): With the Diwali festival just around the corner, the firecracker market is all set to light up Madhya Pradesh's capital Bhopal with vibrant colors, sparkling displays, and the growing demand for eco-friendly green fireworks. Firecracker shop owners in Bhopal's biggest market, Bairagarh have fully prepared them for the festive season by observing complete precaution and safety measures. The Fire Control team also inspected the market on Friday and gave necessary instructions to them. Former President of Bairagarh's Wholesale Fireworks Sellers ...Read More >
Hyderabad: With Diwali around the corner, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) across Hyderabad are tightening regulations on firecracker use to ensure a cleaner, quieter festival.Notices issued to residents this week permit only eco-friendly "green crackers" and restrict their use to a one-and-a-half-hour window in the evening. Several RWAs have also banned high-decibel and aerial fireworks, citing health and safety concerns for children, senior citizens, and pets in the city.Speaking to TOI, Sai Ravi Shankar, president of the Federation of Gated Communities, Cyberabad, explained, "We have st ...Read More >
Ahmedabad: Ahead of Diwali festival, the city police on Tuesday issued a notification with regard to the sale and use of only green firecrackers within Ahmedabad limits from Oct 19 to Nov 5. The order, signed by police commissioner G S Malik under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and provisions of the Gujarat Police Act, follows Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal directives aimed at reducing air and noise pollution.The order states that only firecrackers certif ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Despite the govt's push for eco-friendly celebrations, Hyderabad's festive markets are buzzing with familiar sights and sounds. Green crackers, marketed as cleaner, safer alternatives, are seeing an uptick in sales, but traditional fireworks continue to dominate as customers cling to nostalgia and the thrill of noise and sparkle."At least 60%-70% of my customers ask for the old favourites -- rockets, atom bombs, and chakris," said Ramesh Gupta, a fireworks dealer at Begum Bazar. "People ask about green crackers, but buy the regular ones once they see the difference in sound and spar ...Read More >
Chandigarh: The Chandigarh administration has issued strict guidelines for sale and use of firecrackers during upcoming festivals, including Dussehra, Diwali, and Gurpurb. In an official order released by deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, only green crackers certified by CSIR-NEERI will be permitted, in accordance with directives of the Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT).The use of firecrackers on Dussehra will be allowed only during effigy burning. For Diwali, firecrackers can be used strictly between 8pm and 10pm, while on Gurpurb, permitted windows are 4am to 5am and 9pm ...Read More >
ROURKELA: In a biggest ever crackdown on unauthorised storage of firecrackers, Birmitrapur police along with a special squad on Monday night unearthed a massive haul of illegal crackers worth around Rs 90 lakh from three locations of Birmitrapur town in Sundargarh district. Such was the seizure that it took 17 mini-trucks, tractor-trollies and pick-up vans to shift the contrabands to the police custody. Acting on a tip-off regarding illegal storage of firecrackers in unsafe conditions, joint raids were conducted in which two godowns taken on rent by Vicky Tekriwal (35) and another residential ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 15 (PTI) The Delhi government and police will strictly enforce sale of NEERI and PESO certified green firecrackers, with licensees allowed to stock only 600 kg of crackers per shop, officials said on Thursday. Temporary licences will be issued by the deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) in each district, among around 140 Petroleum and Explosives Safety (PESO) certified firecracker retailers for sale on three days (October 18-19). Patrol teams will be formed to enforce the Supreme Court guidelines, they said. The apex court on Wednesday temporarily lifted ban on green firecrac ...Read More >