New Delhi, Oct 29: The morning after Diwali, a festival of lights was less hazy in national capital as people used lesser firecrackers to celebrate festival night after an appeal by the authorities.

The Delhi Government had earlier convened a meeting of Environment Pollution Control authorities, which decided to monitor pollution levels especially during the winter season.

The committee appealed to the public to desist from bursting fire crackers. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reportedly also monitors air pollution after Diwali to assess the impact of Diwali crackers on the atmosphere.

The campaign to wean people away from bursting crackers on Diwali seems to have borne fruit this year.

New Delhi/Kolkata/Kanpur, Oct 29: Diwali festivities were marred due to various fire accidents caused by firecrackers across India.

In Delhi, seven people were injured, including four firemen, when a massive fire broke out in a in a slum cluster in Jehangirpuri area of Delhi last night.

"All our belongings are burnt, nothing is left. We are not even left with clothes to wear. We don''t know whether any human being is injured in the fire but pets like dogs, cats, and goats have all died in the fire," said Shrikant, a victim.

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New Delhi, Oct 29 : The first partnership development workshop under the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) South-South Cooperation Programme will be held here today. 

The workshop will be hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the World Bank. 

GFDRR South-South Cooperation Programme is a major initiative to facilitate collaboration among low and middle-income countries to mainstream disaster risk reduction and recovery into the development planning and programming. 

New Delhi, Oct 28 : Diwali, the festival of lights, is being celebrated across the country with traditional fervour and zeal today.

It was celebrated in the southern part of the country on Monday.

Diwali is being celebrated with full fervour and gaiety in Delhi. The Delhi police has made elaborate security arrangements for the occasion. 

In Madhya Pradesh, people are opting for eco-friendly crackers and the Chinese make are no longer in demand. The State Pollution Control Board is continuously monitoring the air and noise pollution levels.

Diwali is also being celebrated in Jammu region with religious fervour and enthusiasm.

New Delhi, Oct 28 : Ahead of the third Test beginning in New Delhi from tomorrow, the Aussies, who are already behind 0-1 in the four-match series, are facing a tough time with captain Ricky Ponting being in continuous pain following surgery on his right wrist in July.

During the second Test in Mohali last week which Australia miserably lost by 320 runs, Ponting required a cortisone injection in his wrist to overcome his pain, reported foxsports. com.