A 72-year-old cardiac patient died amid explosion of banned firecrackers at his Rabindranagar neighbourhood on Thursday night. Family members have blamed the sound of crackers for Piyush Kanti Sarkar’s death.

Sarkar fell ill at his home on the southern fringes after being forced to bear the sound of crackers throughout Diwali and the day after. “He protested in vain against the bursting of firecrackers and finally went to the police station to lodge a complaint. He collapsed in an auto on his way home. The sound of firecrackers was responsible for his death,” said Prabuddha, the younger son of Sarkar.

“It’s unfortunate that the bursting of crackers has claimed a life,” said Biswajit Mukherjee, the chief law officer of the pollution control board. “If there is a complaint we will take action,” said L.N. Meena, the superintendent of South 24-Parganas police. The environment minister has sought a report from the police, said an official of the department.