Panaji: With youth across the state busy crafting Narkasur effigies ahead of Diwali, doctors and residents have appealed to Narkasur mandals to avoid using plastic, warning that burning it can release harmful fumes.Doctors say inhaling smoke and toxic gases can cause acute coughing, wheezing, burning eyes and shortness of breath, while aggravating respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.With the effigies set to be burnt on Saturday, concerned residents said awareness was needed to prevent health risks. Some have written to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), urging authorities to ensure that the celebrations do not endanger public health.“This year, a worrying observation needs our attention. Some effigies appear to be made using cling film or plastic sheets beneath layers of paper and paint, instead of traditional materials like hay,” said surgical oncologist Dr Shekhar Salkar.Residents have also taken to social media to highlight the dangers of inhaling toxic smoke and gases.“If you burn anything, it is bad. And when you burn toxic materials, it creates toxic gases and affects lung health. Children right now are suffering from a lot of lung disorders, what we call hypersensitivity diseases. Burning so many Narkasurs is going to add to the air pollution and create more health issues. I don’t find any sense in burning any of these effigies, but people are conditioned to this. They also use fireworks inside the Narkasur, and I always try to tell my patients how children are used to making these firecrackers,” said paediatrician Dr Varsha Amonkar.Residents have also raised concerns about loud music and firecrackers, which disturb children, senior citizens, and animals.“Rather donate the money to the maid’s child so that they have a better Diwali with sweets and clothes. This is literally burning money. Somewhere, all this has to stop. It creates a lot of garbage,” said Dr Amonkar.
