New Delhi: The fire accidents this Diwali registered a 16 percent decline in New Delhi this year after the Supreme Court brought back ban on the sale of firecrackers from October 9 to November 1, with a view to lessening pollution.

"Delhi Fire Services received 204 emergency calls this year as compared to 242 calls last year," Fire Director of Delhi Fire Services G. C. Mishra said.

On the other hand, Mishra expressed discontent over citizens' attitude over the Supreme Court's ban on the sale of firecrackers, as it was likely that the calls would reduce by 50 percent.

The Fire Director also informed that there was 48 percent decrease in calls from 12:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., while 40 calls per hour on average were treated with, between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.

"The implication we can draw from it is that people used to burst crackers in the long hours earlier, but after the ban, people had lesser stock which soon got bushed by midnight," Mishra said.

There were no major calls and the preparation was satisfactory in accordance with the calls, because of the decrease in the number of accidents as well as the addition of 20 fire service vehicles, he informed to reporters.

Mishra further urged all to show apprehension towards pollution before making mind up to burst crackers.

Since the ban implemented ten days before the festival was merely on the sale of crackers, people in Delhi did not refrain from bursting crackers despite alarming pollution levels.