New Delhi, Oct. 21 -- A box of 10 rockets for Rs.350, four packs of spinners for Rs.800 and two packs of fountain bombs for Rs.450 were among the firecrackers bought by 15-year-old Chirag at Sadar Bazaar on Monday. He had come to one of the Capital's largest firecracker markets with a friend, hoping to beat the Diwali rush and score the best deals.

After a 20-minute wait, he walked away with his haul - 15 boxes for just Rs.3,000.

The ease with which teenagers could purchase firecrackers, including products not openly displayed, would be unremarkable in an ordinary festive season. In Delhi, however, it raised questions about enforcement, accountability and the meaning of environmental restrictions in a city where the air quality index ha...