DJ services are always used during Navratri, but a horrible mishap in the Bhopal city of Madhya Pradesh has recently pointed towards alarming situations about DJ-generated noise pollution, its severe risks and dangerous consequences that can even kill someone. As per reports, a 13-year-old child who was dancing to the sound of high-pitched music by a DJ succumbed to death during the idol-immersion ceremony of Durga-Pooja.
The incident took place during the evening of 14th October when the child joined in an idol-immersion ceremony and lost his life due to negligence and autocracy of DJ providers and organisers. However, the case came to light after some days when his mother filed a complaint in the police department.
The child has now been identified as Samar Billore who was a student of class 5th. His mother complained that she asked the DJ operators to lower the sound several times but they avoided her request. After this the boy fainted and his parents took him to the nearest hospital to attain emergency help but it did not work and Samar finally ended up losing his life.
Violation of Rules By DJ Operators In Navratri
During Navratri the Durga-Pandals are organised on a huge scale and “noise pollution” is one of those common concerns during the period as these Pandals often violate the related rules regarding the use of loudspeakers in public places. Even this year several cases were registered against DJ service operators who did not follow the standard measures.
As per guidelines the sound should not exceed 55 decibels in daytime and 45 decibels in night, on the other hand, for silence zones it should be between 50 and 40 decibels. Also, loudspeakers/ loud DJ sounds are banned during nighttime between 10 PM to 6 AM.
Hearing a case in 2005, Chief Justice R C Lahoti also opposed the use of high-pitched loudspeakers. In this case, the violation of noise measures was described as an ‘attack on right to life’ which opposes Article 21 of the constitution.
But in contrast, the DJ operators still cross standard limits to stir up chaos, noise pollution and hooliganism. They often don’t even attain written permission before using loudspeakers which makes it more easy to disrupt peace in a certain area.
Sound Hygiene
ENT experts claim that the use of poor technique and miserable vocal systems by sound operators can also cause serious problems and invoke risks. Loud sounds can even result in temporary ear paralysis and trigger mental peace in humans and animals, while 150 decibels or more can tear the ear-drums, and 185 decibels can result in failure of internal organs or can cause death.
The Navratri processions are often conducted in residential areas where children, older people and victims of depression or anxiety become easy prey to such harsh sound systems. The incident in Bhopal city is a call for the DJ operators and Pandal organisers who avoid the law and affect the masses without any liability.
