At a time thousands in India are infected with Covid-19, several parts of the country responded to the Prime Minister’s call for a nationwide lumiére show by bursting high-decibel crackers like they do during Diwali. Some parts of Calcutta were no different.

The city plunged into darkness, barring streetlights, at 9pm sharp. What followed was an explosion of noise, along with diyas that were lit and mobile flashlights that were switched on. The crackers kept bursting and after the first few minutes, it was impossible to keep track of the numbers that went up every minute.

“I lost track after counting 20 crackers in 30 seconds. It was worse than Diwali,” said a Gariahat resident. Sky lanterns and crackers that go up and explode with sparkling flowers dotted the city sky, from Kasba to Kestopur, Behala to Barrackpore.

Scores of Calcuttans thronged balconies and terraces, lighting up the shells, sparklers, sky lanterns, everything associated with Diwali. Across parts of Kasba, several people burst crackers till 9.40 pm.

Youths turned up in groups on Rajdanga Main Road to dance and clap while others flashed lights from their mobile phones. At Bansdroni, at least 10 people assembled on the terrace of an apartment building to chant “bhag corona bhag” before lighting a series of fireworks.

“The sound of crackers was tough for my 80-year-old mother. She had come to the terrace to see a show of light but it turned out to be festival of noise. She had to go back to her room,” said a resident of Behala.

In the north, Cossipore and Sovabazar were among the noisiest spots. Salt Lake was noisy, too. In Teghoria off VIP Road in Baguiati, people not only flocked to terraces to burst crackers, some of them assembled on the road to do the same.

“As soon as the clock struck 9pm, the noise started, even before it was completely dark. It shows people had stored crackers and were waiting to have a go,” said a resident.

Animals and birds had a tough time as well. Stray dogs were seen running helter-skelter across the city. Roman candles and other fireworks, including rockets, were lit by residents of Salt Lake. The noise from crackers woke up the birds who flew out emptying their nests.

At a housing complex on the southern fringes near Garia, several people started bursting crackers while some blew conch shells, along side lighting diyas and switching on phone torches.

“I am not sure what’s the science behind this. But I don’t mind switching off the lights or holding my mobile flashlight for nine minutes. I was with my cousin and for once, we enjoyed without worrying,” said a college student who lives there.