A student holds a placard to spread awareness to save electricity at a programme organised by non-government organisation Tarumitra in Patna on Tuesday. Around 300 students of Shivam Public School, in association with Tarumitra, formed a human chain near Mithapur bridge urging residents to avoid air pollution this Diwali by burning minimum crackers. The students requested the residents to light candles and earthen lamps instead of Chinese bulbs on the occasion of Diwali. Kumkum Tiwari, a Class IX student of the school, said: “We have unanimously decided not to burn crackers this Diwali. Our message is loud and clear that we don’t want to spread air pollution. A recent survey conducted by World Health Organisation clearly stated that air pollution is a major cause of cancer. Therefore, our school thought to raise awareness about the issue. I hope this programme will help spread the message.” Text by Shuchismita Chakraborty, picture by Ashok Sinha